Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has taken aim at one of the country’s most popular supporter groups over its use of the Indian flag.
Providing commentary for ABC Sport during day two of the first Test against Australia in Perth, Gavaskar, a former Indian captain, took umbrage at flags inside Perth Stadium owned by the Bharat Army, India’s famous supporter group, which travels around the world following the Indian cricket team.
The Bharat Army had multiple flags inside the ground with the words “Bharat” and “Army” written over the saffron and green sections of the flag.
According to section two of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, “there shall be no lettering upon the national flag” of India.
The same section also states: “The national flag shall not be used as a portion of costume or uniform or accessory of any description which is worn below the waist of any person nor shall it be embroidered or printed on cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, undergarments or any dress material”.
Gavaskar implored the Bharat Army to change its flag out of respect for the rules.
“I know that in India it’s not accepted,” he said.
“I don’t think these [fans] are really Indians. I’m not too sure how many of them have Indian passports, so they probably don’t understand the value, the relevance, the importance of the Indian flag.
“All Indians, including me, are very grateful for the support that they bring to the Indian cricket team wherever the Indian cricket team is playing. We are really, really thankful and grateful for that, but I would request them not to have their group’s name on the India flag.
“Design a new flag of your own. If you design a new flag of your own, I will myself wear it with great pleasure.”
Sunil Gavaskar (right) encouraged the Bharat Army to create its own, new flag. (Getty Images: Paul Kane)
Gavaskar was on air with British commentator Alison Mitchell at the time of his comments, with Mitchell explaining that the flags were similar to those seen from English sport fans at various events around the world.
“In England it’s quite a thing,” she said.
“You’ll have the St George’s Cross flag, the red and white flag for England, and then you will emblaze across it the name of the town you’re from, or the cricket club you represent. In some cases, even the football team you support is [written] on the flag itself.”
Mitchell was given information during the final session of play explaining why the Bharat Army’s flags were not considered to be in violation of India’s laws.
“Their flags are especially made and therefore they are not defacements of the national flag and so they don’t violate any laws,” she said on commentary for ABC Sport.
“If the BCCI had any issue with it, you can be sure those flags would not be in existence.”
The Bharat Army is a supporter group that was established in 1999 by Rakesh Patel, a fan from Manchester, and is India’s equivalent of England’s famous Barmy Army.
Having begun with just four members, the group now has more than 160,000 registered members all over the world.
Patel began the Bharat Army in the UK during the 1999 World Cup. He has previously called the group “the 12th man of the Indian team”.
The Bharat Army has a close association with the Indian cricket team, with numerous cricketers having acknowledged the group’s support over the past two decades.
