Kerala Minister hoists National Flag upside down, blames officials for goof-up

• Kerala Minister Ahammad Devarkovil, who is also the Kasaragod district in-charge, was left embarrassed when he unfurled an inverted National Flag during Republic Day celebration. Vaibhav Saxena, district police chief, ADM A K Ramendran, and other top police officers saluted the upside-down flag hoisted at the Kasaragod Municipal Stadium in Vidyanagar. The mistake was pointed out by journalists covering the event. The minister then ordered the function to be halted until the National Flag was properly hoisted. The flag was lowered and correctly re-hoisted in ten minutes, and the Republic Day event was restarted. The minister saluted the National Flag and proceeded with the guard of honour inspection. A probe is now underway in the matter. The BJP, meanwhile, has slammed the insult to the Tricolour and demanded that the minister resign over the gaffe.