KATHMANDU, May 15: The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) has on Monday sought clarification from senior government officials of Province 2 over the use of national flag of wrong size and specifications at the Janaki Temple during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week.

MoFAGA on Monday ordered the chief secretary of the province, secretary at the province’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, chief district officer of Dhanusha district and executive officer of Janakpur Sub-metropolitan City to submit their written clarifications over the matter within three days, according to Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Lal Babu Pandit. 

“The size and other specifications of the Nepali national flag placed alongside Indian national flag during a formal function at the Janaki temple did not match the size and specifications of the flag mentioned in the constitution. We have asked the officials concerned to furnish clarifications within three days as to why such thing happened and who is responsible,” Minister Pandit told Republica. 

Minister Pandit said the government will take necessary action against those responsible after it receives written clarifications from the officials. “We are currently waiting for written clarifications,” he said, while adding that the clarifications have been sought so as to avoid repetition of similar incidents in the future.

The government move comes after a faulty Nepali flag was placed alongside the Indian national flag during the formal function in which Prime Minister KP Oli and his Indian counterpart jointly flagged off Janakpur-Ayodhya Bus Service and announced the Ramayana Circuit. The use of faulty flag drew widespread condemnation mainly on the social media. Many even criticized the government for not taking action against those responsible.

Chief Minister’s displeasure over Modi’s Muktinath visit arrangement 
Chief Minister of Province 4 Prithvi Subba Gurung has expressed his displeasure over the arrangements made for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Muktinath.

Chief Minister Gurung alleged that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) had failed to ensure proper coordination between the federal government and the provincial government over the preparations and  that some journalists were allowed to film videos and take photograph in the restricted areas of the temple. 

Although no one was so far allowed to take photos and shoot video inside the Muktinath Temple, failure on the part of federal government to ensure proper coordination had made it possible for Indian journalists to enter the temple to film videos and take photographs. 

Provincial government officials complained that Nepali ministers as well as other officials present on the temple premises to welcome Prime Minister Modi were humiliated by Indian security officials at Muktinath Temple and Nepali journalists were denied access to the areas where Indian journalists were allowed. They also complained that the federal government and foreign minister had not contacted the provincial chief minister even once to make Modi’s visit arrangements and during Modi’s visit to the temple, the chief minister was treated like an ordinary person.

Sources said provincial ministers have already conveyed their displeasure to the federal government and urged the government to do the needful to avoid such incidents in the future.

 
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