PIL filed in SC to ‘ ban’ green flags

The Supreme Court on Monday sought Centre’s response on a PIL seeking a ban on hoisting of green flags with crescent and star, similar to that of Pakistan Muslim League, atop buildings and religious places in the country, which according to the petitioner has got nothing to do with Islam religion.

A bench of Justices A. K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan asked Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to “seek instructions from the government” on the issue and it posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks.

The Bench was hearing a PIL filed by Syed Waseem Rizvi, Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board seeking a ban on hoisting of such flags which according to the petitioner would only benefit “enemy country” Pakistan.“

He said, “Pakistan, as an enemy country, has been responsible for a series of terror attacks on our country and promoting and propagating crossborder terrorism. Our country remains vulnerable to the hidden attacks by the Pakistani intelligence agencies through their militant network which is very active in our country”, the petition said. These flags, he said resembled that of the Pakistani Muslim League. Such green flags being hoisted in Muslim- dominated areas with crescent and star had never been part of any Islamic practice or tenets as such have no significance in Islam.

The petitioner claimed that during his visits to various places, he saw flags on several buildings and religious structures, which were a cause of tension between communities. The petition alleged that the crescent star flags in green colour owe its origins to the erstwhile India Union Muslim League founded in 1948.