Mandira flags off fresh controversy

When Bedi came on air to kick off the final between Sri Lanka and Australia, she was in a saree — designed by Puneet Nanda of designer label Satya Paul — that had flags of all countries in the World Cup.

The Indian flag appeared in the folds of her saree below her knee, near her foot. TV channels caught it first. Soon everyone had caught on.

Coincidently also, the Pakistani flag collage stood out on her bare right shoulder!

For Bedi, the showers that hit Kensington Oval after the toss came as a breather. By the time the showers had done their two bits, Bedi was back on air with a different saree. But the damage was already done. Puneet Nanda had to apologize. “I didn’t think our flag would end up near Bedi’s foot. I am sorry,” he told DNA.

Mandira also tendered an apology to fellow Indians who were upset about her wearing the flag-themed saree. The actor noted that she had saved the saree in question for the final day of the tournament as it had flags of the 16 participating nations.

But the morality brigade will take none of it. Shiv Sainiks were out on the streets of Indore on Sunday protesting against what they called an insult to the National Tricolour while in Jaipur an FIR was filed against Bedi and sari designer Puneet Nanda.

The Shiv Sainiks set fire to Bedi's effigy and said they would file a case against her in a local court under the Prevention of Insult to National Honor Act.

In Chandigarh, Bajrang Dal activists protested against Mandira Bedi and demanded stringent punishment against her for denigrating the national flag.

The activists also burnt an effigy of Bedi at a busy chowk close to the Inter-State Bus Terminus.

In Jaipur, Gyan Prakash, the Director of Save India Foundation, filed the complaint at the Shipra Path police station against the duo, saying "in the sari worn by Mandira Bedi and designed by Puneet Nanda, the Tricolour was printed below the knee and was shown as a show piece."

"It was also not in proportion as prescribed in the Constitution," the complaint said.

The case was registered under the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act 1971, PTI quoted station in-charge Gyarsi Ram as saying. Notices would be issued to both Bedi and Nanda after taking legal opinions from experts, Ram said.

Under the Act, using the flag as a costume or uniform of any description or embroidering or printing it on cushion, handkerchief, napkin or any dress material are prohibited.

The latest controversy comes at a time when Akal Takht, the highest body of Sikh religious affairs, accepted the apology of Bedi pertaining to the use of a Sikh religious symbol on her body as a tattoo.

Mandira had sent a signed apology to Akal Takht head Joginder Singh Vedanti expressing regret over hurting Sikh sentiments by displaying an 'Ek Omkar' tattoo in Gurmukhi on her bare back during a fashion show in Mumbai recently.

Gere to Indian 'Moral Police' -- Kiss My White A**..