After a week during which "anti-national" and anti-establishment protests have dominated the the national discourse, the Union government appears to have finally found a solution to the problem.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government on Thursday made it mandatory for all central universities to hoist the national flag at a height of 207 feet on their premises.
The weight of the flag, too, was specified – first misreported as 135Kgs, which was later corrected to 35Kgs.
All central universities to install a 207 ft high,35 kg national flag on orders of HRD ministry.1st such flag at #JNU @ETPolitics
— Anubhuti_ET (@VishnoiAnubhuti) February 18, 2016
The move is part of the government's bid to instil a spirit of patriotism on campuses following the arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who was charged with sedition for allegedly raising anti-national slogans on the campus during a protest on the death anniversary of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
JNU will be the first site where the tricolour is hoisted.
The decision was taken at a meeting of vice-chancellors of all central universities, which was called by Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani following the suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula at University of Hyderabad last month. That incident had also triggered widespread protests over caste discrimination.
“The flag will symbolise the unity and integrity of the nation, under which higher education would flourish,” an official was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
In keeping with the trend of the past week, the move to enforce nationalism polarised opinions on social media.
Welcome move to have Tricolour fly in all Central Univ
— Sidharth Nath Singh (@sidharthnsingh) February 18, 2016
Modi Sarkar's new nationalism mantra. Tricolour at all central universities. Death of Dalit student? JNU crackdown? Not important enough?
— Zakka Jacob (@Zakka_Jacob) February 18, 2016
First 207 feet tricolour weighing 135kgs to come up at #JNU in New Delhi followed by all Central Universities across India. Proud moment.
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) February 18, 2016
Since this govt is on tricolour flying mode, might it suggest to the RSS that they also give it a try? No harm, no foul
— MukhiaJi (@mukhiasudeep) February 18, 2016
Others on social media, however, decided that satire was the best way to greet this newest development. Here's a selection:
That should sort this mess out, then. https://t.co/kkKgWHZPPr
— Mitali Saran (@mitalisaran) February 18, 2016
"In addition to the Indian flag, a smaller flag with Arnab Goswami's picture on it will also be flown in all central universities."
— Overrated Outcast (@over_rated) February 18, 2016
@ChandrusWeb It's time to open a tailoring shop and start a flag making business.
— Chitra Narayanan (@ndcnn) February 18, 2016
PROBLEM SOLVED 👏🇮🇳 https://t.co/MYDuQtimZb
— Malika Rodrigues (@ruderigues) February 18, 2016
Shd also make Ramdev's yoga compulsory which, apart fm homosexuality, will also cure anti-nationalism. #JNUCrackdown https://t.co/JGBoiYG06S
— Joe Athialy (@joeathialy) February 18, 2016
why a 207-feet tricolour? is it because there are 206 bones in an adult body? #ReasonorRandom
— Vikram Kilpady (@kilpady) February 18, 2016
@over_rated have you met this country? #fail is the nicest thing we are
— Gladys Seductionan (@mycrotchetyluv) February 18, 2016
(I'm still cracking up at the idea of a panicked PMO and MHRD deciding over a phone call that GIANT CREEPY FLAGS will solve the problem)
— Amba Azaad (@AmbaAzaad) February 18, 2016
Along with the flag, Govt should make it mandatory for all TV channels -yes Times Now too - to play national anthem at 9pm. EVERY NIGHT.
— Anupam Gupta (@b50) February 18, 2016
*student gives speech where he expresses faith in the constitution and the country*
— Overrated Outcast (@over_rated) February 18, 2016
govt: PUT A FLAG IN EVERY UNIVERSITY! THAT'LL SHOW 'EM!