New Delhi: A Delhi-based advocate has lodged a police complaint against Congress general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for allegedly insulting the Tricolour during her three-day Ganga Yatra. 

Advocate Praveen Dabas lodged the complaint at the Bawana police station on Wednesday, citing several occasions when during Vadra's campaign the national flag had been allegedly desecrated. The complaint was lodged under Sections of The Emblems and Names (Prevention of improper use) Act 1950 and The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971.

"Smt Priyanka Gandhi used a boat which was draped with our national flag over the top, sides, front and back. The national flag was used to cover the top to provide shadow to Smt Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, organisers and supporters of the party," Dabas said in his complaint.

"Apart from this, the Indian national flag was used as a barricade to cover and cordon off the banks of river Ganga at Sirsa Ghat, Lakshagrih Ghat, and other ghats from Sangam to Arail Ghat where the Indian national flag was touching the ground and trailing in water," Dabas further said, attaching several photographs of the event from across a wide range of media reportage.  

Dabas alleged that this was against the spirit of the nation and legal statutes. 

Here are the legal criteria for insulting Tricolour invoked by Dabas

  • Allowing the Indian National Flag to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water intentionally; or
  • Draping the Indian National Flag over the hood, top, and sides or back or on a vehicle, train, boat or an aircraft or any other similar object; or
  • Using the Indian National Flag as a covering for a building; or

The pictures used have been cited by complainant