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National Flag Falls Off As CM Mehbooba Mufti Unfurls It, Probe Ordered

Much embarrassment.
A police inquiry has been ordered in the incident.
Screenshot/TV channel
A police inquiry has been ordered in the incident.

SRINAGAR--In a much embarrassing moment for Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, the national tricolor fell off the post as she hoisted it at Bakshi stadium in Srinagar.

The stadium was hosting the Independence Day function of the state on Monday.

Mehbooba, who was hoisting the national flag as Chief Minister for the first time, pulled the string attached to the post only to see the tricolor fall from the post and land on the ground.

Amid the embarrassing situation, two personnel from the security detail of the Chief Minister held the flag in their hands till Mehbooba gave the ceremonial salute to the flag.

As Mehbooba left the stage for inspecting the contingents of the police and paramilitary forces, the security staff at the Bakshi Stadium hurriedly set the flag right and hoisted it atop the post.

Meanwhile, a police inquiry has been ordered in the incident.

"The Director General of Police has ordered a high-level inquiry. Special DG will hold the inquiry into the incident," said L Mohanti, a senior police officer.

Mufti was reportedly angry over the incident and has asked for strict action against police officials responsible for the arrangements at Independence Day function.

This was Mehbooba Mufti's maiden Independence Day speech as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister.

She took the occasion to speak about the unrest that has gripped the state over the last month after the killing of 22-year-old terrorist Burhan Wani.

She asserted that guns wont solve anything. She also said that she hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi would complete what Atal Bihari Vajpayee started and solve the problems the state is facing.

Mehbooba made an emotional appeal to the youth indulging in violence, telling them not to be misled by the "vested interests" who want to keep Kashmir burning, and prevent the beautiful valley from turning into another Syria or Afghanistan.

"People of Jammu and Kashmir are not bad, nor is India bad. Somewhere mistakes were made with regard to elections. The leadership of the country – from Jawahar Lal Nehru till date – and the parties, it is their mistake," she said.

With inputs from PTI

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.