J-K CM orders state flag be displayed alongside tricolour

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has reportedly stirred another controversy by issuing a state government order directing all buildings housing constitutional institutions and the official vehicles of constitutional authorities to display the state flag alongside the national tricolour.

In an order issued by Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, M A Bukhari, it has been ordered that the violation of the government directive will be treated as insult to Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Insult to State Honors Act, 1979, reports the Rising Kashmir daily.

The GAD is headed by Chief Minister Sayeed.

"As per the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and the Delhi Agreement of 1952 and keeping in view the historical background, the state flag has the same sanctity and position as the Union flag has under the Indian constitution and other statutory provisions. Therefore, this sanctity and position has to be maintained at all costs," reads the state government order.

The government order further reads that the non-hoisting of the state flag with the Union flag amounts to the insult to the flag as per the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Insult to State Honors Act 1979.