Actress and cricket commentator Mandira Bedi has
landed in a bit of trouble with a complaint against her for showing
disrespect to the national flag.
Gyan Prakash Kamra, a Jaipur resident, has accused Mandira of disrespecting
the tricolour by wearing it as a design on her sari. The actress,
while hosting a show on Set Max channel during the final of the World
Cup Saturday, wore a sari that had the national flags of 16 participating
countries printed on it. India's flag, however, found place near her
knees, which allegedly violates the Flag Code.
"She has shown disrespect to our national flag. So I have lodged
a police complaint against her under Section 2 of the Prevention of
Insults to National Honour Act, 1971," Kamra told IANS.
Mandira later changed the sari and apologised on the television.
"I had kept this sari specially to wear on the day of the final
but if I have offended anybody's sentiments, I offer my deep apology.
It was inadvertent and not intentional. I am proud of being an Indian
and do not have any intention to show disrespect to the national flag,"
she said.
But Kamra says her apology only makes his case stronger.
"Her apology does not matter. On the contrary, it makes my case
stronger as she has accepted that she did it," he said.
Mandira had earlier angered Sikh authorities for using a Sikh religious
symbol on her body as a tattoo.
She then sent a signed apology to the Akal Takht, the highest body
of Sikh religious affairs, expressing regret over hurting Sikh sentiments
by displaying an "Ek Omkar" tattoo in Gurmukhi on her bare
back during a fashion show in Mumbai recently.
Mandira, who became famous as a TV star with her role in the serial
"Shanti" a decade ago, has recently been creating waves
by becoming a studio cricket commentator in the live show "Extraa
Innings" - rubbing shoulders with top cricketers of yesteryears.
This is the second cricket World Cup for which she has been engaged
by Sony's Set Max channel.