An activist group Thursday(8 Feb 2024) met the Jharkhand chief secretary Lalbiaktluanga Khiangte to request for the removal of religious flags from public places put up on January 22 to mark the occasion of Ram Mandir Inauguration across various places in Jharkhand.
Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha is an organisation that works for the people’s rights and democratic value in the state. According to the organisation’s social media page, the introduction states “It is a coalition of progressive organisations, formed to facilitate efforts to defend people’s rights and save democracy in Jharkhand.”
The Demand
The chief secretary was notified by the activist organization that “religion-specific flags” were recently placed in public spaces for Ram Mandir’s opening ceremony in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh and the majority of them have not yet been removed.
The delegation made a strong case to the chief secretary for the prohibition of religious flags, banners, and symbols on government property, roadways, power poles, mobile towers, public spaces, police stations, and paramilitary force camps.
“The practice of flying religious flags in towns, cities, neighborhoods, and villages is becoming more and more common. The delegation informed the chief secretary, “It was very sad to see religious flags flown on January 22 that were left up and that were visible more often than the national flag.” According to Elina Horo, a member of the organisation recently 22 January saw a large number of religious flag put up in public spaces across Jharkhand. The Indian flag which was raised on 26 Januray becomes less visible during the republic day celebration.
The delegation further demanded that religious flags, banners, and symbols should be immediately removed from public places and if they are placed for rituals, festivals, or programmes of any religion, it should be ensured that re- ligious flags and symbols are removed within 48 hours of the end of the ritual or festival or event.
Letter to Chief Secretary of Jharkhand
Mahasabha demands Chief Secretary to remove religious flags from public places in the state
Today, on 8 February 2024, the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha delegation met Chief Secretary L. Khiangte and demanded removal of religious flags from public places in the state. The Chief Secretary approved the proceedings.
The delegation told the Chief Secretary that religious flags, banners and symbols should be banned in public places, roads, electricity poles, mobile towers, government offices, police stations, police and paramilitary force camps etc. in various cities, blocks, settlements, villages and towns of the state. The trend of applying is increasing. Recently, for the religious program on 22 January 2024, religion-specific flags were installed at public places across the state, most of which have not been taken down till date. It is extremely sad that even on Republic Day, these flags were not removed and more religious flags were seen in public places than the tricolor.
It is often seen that after religious rituals/festivals/programs of different religions, religion-specific flags and symbols remain displayed in public places for several days. Even after programs organized by political parties, political flags remain displayed at public places for several days.
Our country is a secular country where every religion has equal respect and everyone has complete freedom to follow and celebrate their religion. There is a need to ensure that no religion becomes dominant and there is no interference of any particular religion in the government system and public order. Placing religious flags, banners, symbols etc. in public places sends a message contrary to the constitutional values of equality, justice, fraternity and secularism.
Therefore, to strengthen the constitutional values of equality, justice and secularism in society and state, the delegation demanded that:
- Religious flags, banners, symbols etc. should be immediately removed from public places and should be placed in public places, roads, electricity poles, government offices, police stations, police and paramilitary forces camps etc. during religious rituals/festivals/programmes of any religion. It should be ensured that religious flags and symbols are removed within 48 hours of the end of the ritual/festival/event. The same policy should be applied to political programs and flags also.
- Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan v. The ‘Communal Harmony Guidelines’ approved by the Supreme Court in the case Union of India (AIR 2014 SC 1591) should be implemented.
The delegation included Bharat Bhushan Choudhary, Alina Herro, Jyoti Kujur, Prabhakar Nag, Tom Kavala, Sunil Kumar Oraon and Siraj Dutta.
