January 28, 2009 1:15:50 am
During the Surat district Republic Day celebrations held at a school on Monday,the National Flag remained unfurled while all the dignitaries present at the event including the state urban development minister sang the National Anthem.
Later,on realising the blunder,a policeman climbed up the pole and unfurled the flag.
State Urban Development Minister Nitin Patel was the chief guest at D B High School in Palsana Taluka,where the district-level Republic Day celebrations were held on Monday.
Surat District Collector Dilip Rawal and District Superintendent of Police K G Bhati were also present on the occasion.
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Patel,by mistake,pulled the wrong string to hoist the flag. Even though the flag did not unfurl,the dignitaries and the police staff who were present at the event started singing the National Anthem as soon as the minister pulled the string.
Later,a constable climbed up the pole and untied the knot.
Surat District Superintendent of Police Bhati said,Deputy Superintendent of Police H L Rathod will investigate into the incident. We had rehearsed the hoisting of the National
Flag twice on 25th January and found that the knot was tied in the right way. I think what happened on 26th was accidental.
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