Concerns Raised Over Flag Display in Netflix’s Operation Safed Sagar
Colonel Vembu Shankar, a veteran of the Indian Army, has voiced his worries regarding a scene in Netflix’s new series, Operation Safed Sagar: The Untold Story of the Kargil War. He claims that the Indian national flag is shown incorrectly on the coffin of Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja in the portrayal.
Shankar took to Instagram to share an image from the show, highlighting a moment where Siddharth plays Squadron Leader Ahuja, represented by a coffin carried by characters played by Mihir Ahuja and Abhay Verma. Mihir plays Flying Officer C.H. Bal Reddy, also known as “Baldy,” while Abhay plays Flying Officer Rajpal Singh Dhaliwal, known as “Dhali.”
The veteran expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that the Tricolour covering Ahuja’s coffin does not follow the Flag Code of India. He questioned how such an oversight could occur, especially with military advisers involved in the production. “I am shocked how the authorities at Service Headquarters and military advisors overlooked this fact,” said Shankar.
He has urged the creators and relevant parties to recognize this mistake publicly and to apologize in mainstream media.
The scene brings to light the real-life story of Squadron Leader Ahuja, who lost his life during the Kargil War in 1999 while serving in the Indian Air Force. He was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra for his bravery.
Operation Safed Sagar focuses on the critical role played by the Indian Air Force during the Kargil War, particularly highlighting Operation Safed Sagar, a significant air operation conducted during the conflict. The series showcases the experiences of the military personnel involved and features a talented cast, including Jimmy Shergill, Siddharth, and Dia Mirza.
As of now, the production team behind Operation Safed Sagar has not responded to Colonel Shankar’s concerns or his demand for an apology, and the controversy regarding the flag remains unresolved.
