Sayeed Ahmed Baba, the Consul General of India, found himself in the midst of a controversy as people who attended the function to mark the 60th Republic Day said that the diplomats, including the Consul General himself, did not salute the tricolor. Consul General Baba on Monday unfurled the tricolor in the vicinity of the Consulate General of India, Jeddah, to mark the 60th Republic Day. However, he did not salute the flag, which immediately became a point of controversy as to whether it is, or is not, mandatory for a high official to salute the flag. According to Baba, it is not necessary for such a “small-level” function. “I was surprised to see that no one, no official, not even the Consul General saluted the flag,” said an old man from Karnataka, who had come to attend the function. “This is utter disrespect to the Indian flag, according to my opinion,” he said. A diplomat, requesting anonymity, said “Not only did he (the Consul General) not salute the flag, but also he was not there when the anthem was being played.” Consul General Baba, a seasoned diplomat, was, however, quick to reply: “I have been in diplomatic affairs for over 20 years, and I know the protocols during such events.” According to Baba, the function was of a “small scale” one where it was not necessary to officially salute the flag. Defending the Consul General, however, another diplomat, Cyril Tigga, Consul, Commerce & HOC, said “During an army function, saluting the flag is necessary,” he said, and stressed that it is at “high-level functions,” like those in the military where salutes are taken. When it was mentioned to him that at small schools in India, students as well as teachers salute the flag, he said “Yes, but it is not mandatory.”
