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‘No flag, no ration’: Govt fact-checks video of ration card holder claiming ‘forced to buy tricolour’

The widely-circulated video on Twitter evoked sharp reactions from Opposition Congress and also saffron party MP Varun Gandhi.

New Delhi: A video of ration depot employee ‘forcing’ people to buy national flag for Rs 20 while buying groceries elicited strong reactions on Twitter yesterday, with many politicians taking the opportunity to slam the Centre for its Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyaan.

The shopkeeper, from Haryana’s Karnal, in the video reportedly said that he was told by government officials to sell the Tricolour along with groceries.

As the video went viral, the government’s official fact-checking handle Press Information Bureau (PIB) came forward to debunk the false claims.

PIB in a statement said that no such instruction was given by Government of India. It also informed that the depot owner’s licence was suspended for misleading the people & wrongly boasting about government order.

Taking to Twitter, the PIB said that no such instruction has been given by the Central government.

The widely-circulated video on Twitter evoked sharp reactions from Opposition Congress and also saffron party MP Varun Gandhi.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also latched on the viral video and alleged that ration card holders were forced to buy the national flag by shopkeepers and accused BJP of selling “nationalism”.

Modi government has launched an ambitious drive to make Har Ghar Tiranga campaign a big success, with even PM Modi urging the citizens to hoist or display the national flag at their homes from August 13 to 15.

Karnal police also informed that stern action has been taken against he shopkeepers and his licence cancelled.