Republic Day 2022: Tricolour unfurled atop Clock Tower in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk after 30 years

Source : India Today

Tri colour unfurled by locals on the top of the Clock Tower in Srinagar's Lal Chowk on the occasion of Republic day.

In a first, it was a historic moment and a magical site to watch as the Tricolour was unfurled for the first time by the locals on the top of the Clock Tower in the Lal Chowk area of Srinagar on the solemn occasion of Republic Day.

On the 73rd Republic Day, a flag hoisting ceremony was held in the Lal Chowk area. Also, it was the first time since India’s independence that the national flag was unfurled atop Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar) in Srinagar.

Tricolour hoisted after 30 years

It was undoubtedly a historic moment as the national flag was hoisted atop Clock tower in Srinagar Lal Chowk, 30 years after veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi did it for the first time. Senior BJP leader had hoisted the national flag at Lal Chowk in 1992 at the peak of militancy in the valley.

Ever since then, the spot has been a controversial subject over the decades, more recently after the abrogation of Article 370.

Two local activists, Sajid Yousuf Shah and Sahil Bashir, were carried by a crane on top of the clock tower while they unfurled the flag.

The clock tower in Lal Chowk is of great significance when it comes to the politics of Kashmir. Several attempts were made in the past to hoist the tri-colour on top of the clock tower but were never successful.

Everytime the administration denied permission, even after the abrogation of Article 370 citing the sensitivity of the area.