RTI activist objects to ‘alteration of national emblem’ by Congress leader

Charanjit Singh Teja 

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Tribune News Service 

Amritsar, April 2

An RTI activist has raised objection to the alleged alteration of the Ashoka emblem by Congress activist Gurinder Rishi, president of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Welfare Club, who distributed fake coins of Rs 15 lakh as an April Fool’s Day prank yesterday. 

PC Sharma filed an online complaint to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Gurinder Rishi had violated the Section 3 of the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper use) Act, 2005. 

PC Sharma claimed that Gurinder Rishi altered the national emblem and used it improperly.

“Rishi wrote ‘Asatyamev Jayate’ on the coin by altering ‘Satyamev Jayate’. As per the Act, he cannot change the line of the emblem. Section 3 of the Act mentions that no person shall use the emblem or any colourable imitation thereof in any manner which tends to create an impression that it relates to the government or that it is an official document of the Central Government, or as the case may be, the State Government, without previous permission of the Central Government or of such officer of that Government as may be authorised by it in this regard,” said PC Sharma, RTI activist. 

“I have filed the complaint to maintain the respect of the national emblem. I will get legal opinion to pursue the case,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Congress activists Rishi refuted the allegations of Sharma. He said they got a locket with the picture of Kamal and Modi, instead of lions of the Ashoka emblem. He said the Congress knew how to respect the emblem. 

The Shaheed Bhagat Singh Welfare Club, led by Gurinder Rishi,  observed April Fool’s Day as Modi Day, by targeting his poll promise that people would get Rs 15 lakh in their accounts. He distributed the fake currency coins of Rs 15 lakh to the commuters. The activists claimed to have distributed 10,000 coins to make the people aware about the unrealistic poll promises of the Prime Minister.