On the first day of PM Modi's visit to Malaysia for the ASEAN summit, a controversy has erupted over the PM’s seeming nonchalance at the incorrect positioning of the national flag.
Photos reveal that Modi while exchanging pleasantries and posing with his Japanese counterpart, the Indian tricolor was hoisted upside down beside the Japanese flag in the background. Social media has lashed out at the PM for not noticing it.
Respected PM..b4 u do wat u like dng the best,photo-op, pls look around..Indian flag is upside down..don't shame us. https://t.co/aCxohVXk9y
— khushbusundar (@khushsundar) November 21, 2015 I can sign it. It can be upside down. I couldn't care less coz I'm the great Modi and it's just the Indian national flag. #ModiInMalaysia
— Shafana (@not_losechester) November 21, 2015 Indian flag hoisted upside down as PM Modi shakes Abe's hand. pic.twitter.com/DCxlyccn6l
— Shinjali Divanji (@ShinjaliD) November 21, 2015 Bhakt :- send this flag to Pak, its anti national anti Hindu n a modi hater. It hoisted itself with green on top #मैं_देश_नहीं_झुकने_दूंगा
— Md Asif Khan (@imMAK02) November 21, 2015 Modi doesn't know how Indian flag is put. Or He should have fixed it #blameModigame
— Sunil Srinivasan (@sunsrin) November 21, 2015 While PM Modi posing with Japan PM in Malaysia, Indian Flag is Upside Down. #मैं_देश_नहीं_झुकने_दूंगा pic.twitter.com/ZwKNBLxS2z
— Aarti (@aartic02) November 21, 2015Modi is scheduled to address Indians in the island nation on Sunday before meeting representatives of other south Asian countries during his three-day stay.
There has not been any reaction from the PMO or the External Affairs Ministry regarding the matter.
However, the Hindu quoted an official who did not want to be named as saying, ““It was an inadvertent mistake in the rush of things. It was unfortunate.”
However, the following video suggests that the PM might be unaware of the flag being upside-down as it does not appear in his line of sight.
PM Narendra Modi meets PM of Japan Shinzo Abe #ModiInMalaysia pic.twitter.com/E9JbW07Uvb
— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2015