BJP displays party flags sans civic body permission

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, September 10

Not caring two hoots for the law, the BJP has put up party flags on the route to be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convoy during his visit to the city tomorrow without seeking permission from the Municipal Corporation.

The flags have also been put up at the rally ground in Sector 25 where the Prime Minister is scheduled to address a political rally.

BJP Leader of the Opposition in the MC Arun Sood said he was not aware whether or not permission had been sought to put up the party flags. “The flags have been installed to welcome the Prime Miniseter, who is from the BJP. In case permission has not been sought, we will pay the advertisement fee to the MC,” he said.

Virender Chaudhary, Joint Commissioner, MC, expressed ignorance on whether or not permission had been sought for putting up the party flags. “I was occupied at the rally ground throughout the day; my office staff will have information regarding the permission,” he said.

The Joint Commissioner said the flags would be removed in case permission was not sought.

Displaying flags and hoardings without permission is a violation of the Chandigarh Advertisement Control Order (CACO), 1954. According to the rules, a fine of Rs 100 per sq ft per day is to imposed for illegally displaying any hoarding.

Congress leaders detained

Anticipating a protest by Congress leaders during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chandigarh, the police detained Congress councillor Darshan Garg, chairman of the colony cell of the party Shashi Shankar Tiwari, Youth Congress leader Gurpreet Gabi and former Congress councillor Devinder Babla late on Thursday night. Sources said the police were in the process of detaining more Congress leaders at the time of the filing of this report.