That the Indian flag is missing at the Attari-Wagah border is a major embarrassment to the nation. A front-page report in this paper yesterday revealed how Mumbai tourists had visited the famous border to witness the flag-lowering ceremony but had to return disappointed. The 360-ft flagpole was standing sans the flag.

The flag-lowering ceremony is a tourist attraction that draws thousands of Indians to the border every day. When bewildered tourists asked why the flagpole had no flag, the answer was that it kept getting torn, so it is only used on special occasions like August 15 or January 26.