Breaking his silence on criticism against him in the social media for not saluting the Tricolour during the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath on Monday, Vice President Hamid Ansari has stated that as per protocol only those in uniform salute the national flag while the National Anthem is being played.
Those in plainclothes are just supposed to stand in attention, he added.
According to the Flag Code of India, Section VI, only those in uniform may ‘render the appropriate salute’.
“During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in a review, all persons present should face the flag and stand at attention. Those present in uniform should render the appropriate salute… A dignitary may take the salute without a head dress,” the section states.
Some people had used social media platforms to question Ansari’s patriotism over the incident.
