NEW DELHI: In the largest democracy, nothing is beyond the pale of politics, be it any day or the I-Day. A flag fiasco in Srinagar, a black kite in Delhi and a family feud in Lucknow, all sidelights became the grist for the mill on Monday. Minutes before Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Red Fort to unfurl the Tricolour, a security chopper hovering over the area detected an ominous sight — a black kite flying over the historic ramparts of Lal Qila.
It was found to be a serious enough aberration for security personnel guarding the ground and the air to chase it down before the prime ministerial arrival. Later, an official said it was seen as a danger alert! Well, New Delhi had well-equipped forces to avert any unforeseen interruption or bad omen marring the pristine I-Day celebrations. No such luck for J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The pole from which she was hoisting the Indian flag gave way, even as police personnel were seen running to its rescue, a tad too late. A probe was duly ordered to fix responsibility, on how it happened. However, what stood out most was the open feud between SP chief Mulayam Singh and his UP CM-son Akhilesh Yadav. While both unfurled the Tricolour at separate events, the SP boss took to trolling his son, hauling him up on I-Day for sidelining his brother minister Shivpal Yadav.