A fresh controversy has erupted after members of the Indian men's water polo team were spotted wearing swimming trunks that had national flag on it. The incident took place during the Asian Aquatics Championship in Ahmedabad. The incident has been denounced by a number of former athletes and spectators as a breach of India's Flag Code of 2002.
As reported by Dainik Jagran, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports took the issue seriously. The IOA has now asked the Swimming Federation of India (SFI), the organization in charge of the team's uniforms, for an explanation. The event is being viewed as a global embarrassment.
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According to India's Flag Code, it is completely forbidden to wear clothing that shows the national flag below the waist, like shorts or swimwear. The flag cannot be used on napkins, cushions, underwear, or any other item of personal or domestic usage, according to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act of 1971.
Indian law supersedes such laws when it comes to domestic representation, even though international aquatic contests permit the exhibition of minor national insignia on hats or jerseys. The flag is only allowed to be exhibited on swimming caps worn on the head in accordance with international standards and Indian flag code laws.
Officials from the SFI admitted the error and promised that swift corrective action would be done when approached by local media.
“We are taking this matter seriously. The team’s kit will be changed before the next match, and the national flag will only be displayed on the skull cap moving forward,” an SFI official told the Hindi national daily. “While other countries do use their national flags on sports gear, we fully respect Indian sentiments and national protocol,” the official added.
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However, the SFI defended itself by pointing to World Aquatics (previously FINA) rules that permit the display of the national flag and country code on items such as caps up to 32 square centimeters in size. Legal professionals and former athletes contend that Indian law remains supreme in spite of this, particularly with regard to national symbols.
According to the report, the Ministry of Sports has acted quickly, ordering the SFI to provide a comprehensive report and giving them immediate instructions to address the problem.
It also cited a ministry source stating that any infraction regarding the respect of the national flag cannot be disregarded, even though the error seems to have been inadvertent.
The Ministry believed it was a mistake of judgment, not a conscious action. On the other hand, the dignity of the national insignia cannot be compromised.
The SFI promised that such situations would not recur in the future and that the team's new jerseys will be ready before the following game.
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