IIT-ISM Dhanbad Republic Day Flag Controversy: Vendors Protest Denied Flag Hoisting

Dhanbad: A controversy erupted on Republic Day after the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad (IIT-ISM) stopped local street vendors from hoisting the national flag near the institute’s main gate, triggering protests.The incident occurred on Monday morning at the mini-market area located outside the main gate of IIT-ISM, which is frequented by street vendors. According to the vendors, they were making routine preparations for the Republic Day celebrations as they have been doing for decades, but security officer Ram Manohar told them that they were not permitted to hoist the flag there due to ongoing construction near the main gate.The vendors strongly disputed the claim, alleging that no construction was underway on Republic Day. They accused the IIT-ISM administration of using safety concerns as a pretext to assert what they termed as “illegal control” over land that does not fall within the institute’s jurisdiction.Mahesh Kumar Singh, alias Mani, a vendor who has been running his shop in the area for years, said he had informed BJP leader Mukesh Pandey about the incident. Upon their request, Pandey contacted IIT ISM deputy director Dhiraj Kumar over the phone. After reviewing the matter, Kumar granted permission to the vendors to hoist the national flag. Kumar said the flag hoisting had initially been stopped due to ongoing construction near the main gate. “When I came to know the full facts, I immediately ordered that permission be granted to the vendors,” he said.Despite the resolution, resentment among the vendors remained palpable. They alleged that IIT-ISM authorities had acted beyond their jurisdiction. “The place where we were hoisting the flag is outside the IIT-ISM campus. It belongs to the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation, not the institute,” Singh claimed.