OPPOSITION MPS, MLAs LEFT OUT; FIVE CONGRESS REBELS ACCUSED OF CROSS-VOTING GET FLAG-HOISTING DUTIES, “AUGUST 15 IS A NATIONAL FESTIVAL AND MUST RISE ABOVE PARTISAN POLITICS” — ADVOCATE HEMANT KUMAR
Face2News/Chandigarh
Haryana’s official programme for the 79th Independence Day has triggered a political controversy, with questions being raised over the selection of public representatives entrusted with hoisting the national flag at government functions across the state.
Punjab & Haryana High Court advocate and administrative-law expert Hemant Kumar has alleged that the official list gives the impression of political selectivity, with several elected Congress representatives—including MPs and MLAs—left out of the celebrations, while five Congress MLAs who were publicly accused of cross-voting in the March 2026 Rajya Sabha election have been assigned flag-hoisting duties at subdivision-level functions.
Hemant said the Independence Day is “not an event belonging to any political party, but a national festival of the entire country.” He argued that the elected MLA representing the Assembly constituency in which a government function is being held should ordinarily be given an opportunity to hoist the national flag, irrespective of whether the legislator belongs to the ruling party or the Opposition.
Five Congress MLAs at the Centre of the Controversy
The controversy assumes significance against the backdrop of the March 2026 Rajya Sabha election. Congress had publicly raised allegations of cross-voting against four of its MLAs—Shailly Chaudhary, Renu Bala, Mohammad Ilyas and Mohammad Israil—with the name of Jarnail Singh subsequently figuring in the controversy.
Hemant questioned the apparent contrast in the government’s approach.
“If legislators facing allegations of cross-voting can be entrusted with the honour of hoisting the national flag at official Independence Day functions, what justification can there be for denying the same opportunity to other elected Opposition MLAs representing their respective constituencies?” he asked.
Ambala Presents a Striking Contrast
Pointing to his home district of Ambala, Hemant highlighted what he described as a particularly striking contrast.
At the district headquarters in Ambala City, Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Anil Vij will hoist the national flag. However, at the subdivision-level Independence Day function in Ambala Cantonment, which falls within Vij’s Assembly constituency, the SDM has reportedly been designated to hoist the flag.
In Naraingarh, represented by Congress rebel MLA Shailly Chaudhary, the MLA has been designated for flag-hoisting. In contrast, at Barara subdivision, falling under the Mulana Assembly constituency represented by Congress MLA Pooja Chaudhary, Haryana Gau Seva Commission Chairman Ramchandra Kamboj has been assigned the responsibility.
Hemant also pointed out that Ambala MP Varun Chaudhary has not been designated to hoist the national flag at any district or subdivision-level government function in the state.
Congress MPs, Leader of Opposition Also Left Out
According to Hemant, the exclusion extends beyond MLAs. Other Congress Lok Sabha MPs from Haryana—Deepender Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja, Jai Parkash and Satpal Brahmachari—along with Rajya Sabha MP Karamvir Boudh, have also not been assigned flag-hoisting duties at any district or subdivision-level official function.
He further pointed to the absence of Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who enjoys the status equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister, from the list of designated flag-hoisting dignitaries.
Ruling Camp Gets Prominent Presence
The programme order issued on August 12 provides prominent roles to senior constitutional and political functionaries. Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh will hoist the national flag at Yamunanagar, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini at Hansi, Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan at Kurukshetra and Deputy Speaker Dr Krishna Lal Middha at Gurugram.
Other ministers, BJP MPs and independent elected representatives supporting the government have also been assigned duties at various district and subdivision-level celebrations.
‘National Flag Must Not Become a Symbol of Political Preference’
Hemant said the manner in which Independence Day functions are organised carries a message far beyond the ceremony itself. “August 15 represents India’s democratic spirit, constitutional values and national unity. Political differences must be kept aside on such an occasion. Every elected representative—whether from the ruling party or the Opposition—deserves equal respect in a national celebration,” he said.
He added that allowing the elected MLA of the concerned Assembly constituency to hoist the national flag would send a stronger message of democratic inclusiveness and constitutional propriety.
“The national flag belongs to every Indian. Its hoisting at a government function should not appear to be determined by political loyalty or partisan equations. On a national occasion, the message of unity must be louder than the message of politics,” Hemant said.
79 Years of Independence, 80th Independence Day
India will complete 79 years of Independence on August 15, 2026, making it the country’s 80th Independence Day.
Hemant said that at such a historic national milestone, the focus should be on democratic inclusiveness, constitutional dignity and national unity, rather than political calculations.
“On the 80th Independence Day, Haryana should demonstrate that the national flag rises above party lines. The occasion should unite the ruling party, Opposition and every elected representative under one national identity—Indian,” he said.–
Haryana
Trending
