Social activists seek installation of Tricolor on clock tower; writes to SMC Mayor

The social activists who hoisted Tricolor on 73rd Republic Day at Srinagar clock tower have written a letter to the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mayor seeking the renovation of the clock tower roof and installation of the national flag on it permanently.

On the eve of Republic Day, social activists Sajid Yousuf Shah and Sahil Bashir Bhat hoisted the national flag atop the historic Clock tower in the city’s Lal Chowk Srinagar using a hydraulic crane elevator.

However, for a reason unknown, the Tricolor disappeared in less than hours, which drew criticism from former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah.

“Tricolor disappears in less than a couple of hours. It didn’t even remain there for the day. Why insult the National Flag just for a photo op? Is this what patriotism & nationalism has come to? Photo ops & trolling?” Omar Abdullah had tweeted.

Referring to the Mayor SMC Junaid Azim Mattu, the social activist Sajid Yousuf Shah and Sahil Bashir Bhat have requested repairing Clock Tower Roof at Lal Chowk, Srinagar and installation of a permanent Tricolor on it.

“With immense regards, we would like to draw your kind attention towards the important issue of Roof of the clock tower (Ghanta Ghar) at Lal Chowk, Srinagar, which is urgently in need of repair so that our Tricolor can be installed permanently on it,” it reads.

“As you are aware our former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah raised this concern over social media, on his Twitter handle. As your good self is aware that we, Sajid Yousuf Shah and Sahil Bashir Bhat, hoisted the Tricolor on Top of the clock tower on the 26th of January 2022 73rd Republic day, thereby creating history in Jammu & Kashmir”, it reads.

It is pertinent to mention that the roof and pole on Historic Clock Tower are in very bad condition and need urgent repair. We realized this during the flag hoisting. Unfortunately, until today, there has been no renovation work un dertaken on the roof and flag post of Ghanta Ghar. The roof tiles are reeking and cracking in dilapidated condition, and the Flag is unable to withstand the waning strength of the pole, especially when the weather is windy or rainy, the letter reads.

We request you to kindly consider un dertaking renovation work of our his toric monument with immediate effect, especially since our ex-Chief Minister himself has expressed his grievance that our Indian Flag could not remain there for over an hour. Hoping to receive a pos itive and prompt response from you, the letter added.

Reacting to the letter, Junaid Azim Mattu, in a tweet, said, “The renovation and up-gradation of the Clock Tower at Lal Chowk has already been approved a couple of months back and is in the design and procedural phase.”