The entire Opposition belonging to the Congress-Indian Union Muslim League- Socialist Janata (Democratic) combine staged a walkout of the Corporation council meeting here on Friday over the allegation of insulting the national flag during the valedictory function of the golden jubilee of the Corporation last week.
Raising the issue at the meeting, IUML councillor A.V.Anwar demanded that Mayor A.K. Premajam and Deputy Mayor P.T.Abdul Latheef resign from their posts in connection with the incident. He alleged that the national flag had been flown upside down in the vehicle carrying the tableau (depicting the salt satyagraha) of the Corporation during the cultural procession.
However, the Mayor who presided over the session, rubbished the allegations, saying that none had tried to insult the national flag during the cultural procession. The national flag was officially adopted in its current form only after Independence in 1947.
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The flag that was used for the tableau had a ‘charka’ or spinning wheel in the centre which was the flag of the Congress party at that time. The tableau presented the salt satyagraha in Kozhikode in 1930.
It was historically erroneous to say that the national flag was used during the cultural procession, Prof. Premajam said.
But the clarification of the Mayor failed to convince the Opposition councillors. The council meeting resulted in a commotion between the ruling Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front members. The Muslim League councillors alleged that the Mayor had been misinformed and demanded her resignation.
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The Opposition members refused to heed to the Mayor’s advice to remain calm at the council meeting. Subsequently they staged a walked out.
However, the council meeting adopted the agenda for the day in the absence of the Opposition councillors.
Previously the Corporation Anti-Corruption Campaign Committee had petitioned the City Commissioner of Police to register a case against the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, and the floor leader, M. Mohanan for flying the national flag upside down.
The committee general convener K.P. Vijayakumar had said that the Corporation had not obtained permission from the District Collector for displaying the national flag on days other than Republic Day and Independence Day.
Cases should be registered under the Prevention of Insults of National Honour Act of the Prevention of Improper Use Act, 1971, he said.