Govt spokesman clarifies PM Modi's 'tricolour' row, says it's a memento

The Spokesperson of the Government of India, Mr Frank Noronha , on Friday in a statement clarified that the ongoing controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi signing the national flag,. He said that the reports about latter disrespecting the tricolour is false. The Prime Minister, he said , signed on a memento not a tricolour , which will be presented to President Barack Obama.

"The story about Prime Minister Modi disrespecting the tricolour is false and mischievous. The Prime Minister did not autograph the tricolour. The memento signed by Prime Minister Modi did not have the Ashok Chakra on it or the white colour band on it," Director General of Press Information Bureau (PIB) and government spokesperson Frank Noronha told ANI.

"The memento was made by a differently-abled child using only her toe and when Prime Minister Modi was asked to autograph it, he felt obliged," he added.

He also stressed that the reports of memento being confiscated by authorities are false and no such action was taken.

Earlier, a controversy erupted following the report that Prime Minister Modi autographed an Indian flag in New York to be gifted to President Barack Obama, evoking sharp reaction from the Congress.