India will be celebrating 75 years of independence this August 15; it is indeed a momentous occasion for a nation which fought long and hard -- for its freedom and its journey of development and accomplishments. 
To mark this occasion, the Prime Minister of India introduced the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga Scheme’ through which every citizen is encouraged to hoist the national flag at their homes from August 13 to 15 next. The exuberance surrounding this scheme is astounding. Over several weeks now, Arunachal has been promoting the same at every possible venue. Every media space has been captured by the tricolour. The opportunity being given to citizens to hoist the national flag is novel but there also seems to be a frenzy to push the scheme which is bordering on desperation and herein arises the problem. By doing so, it beats the intention of making the ‘Tiranga’ more personal and bring in the feeling of patriotism in every nook and corner of the country.
BJP MP Varun Gandhi on twitter, shared a video in which several people are seen alleging that they were forced to buy a national flag to get their ration. A man and a woman can be heard saying that they are being forced to buy a national flag for Rupees 20, which they don’t have. This writer can’t decide which is more pitiful-- a government forcing poor, helpless people to push its grand scheme of things or that we as a country have citizens struggling to make Rupees 20. 
You have given the people the opportunity, now let them decide!
As the rest of India, Arunachalees are patriotic from their core and there is nothing to prove. Hoisting a flag at home though an honour, is not something which can define the love for one’s country. Today, a quote by Charles de Gaulle does come to mind: Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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