Thiruvananthapuram (TIP)- A probe has been ordered after the national flag was found upside-down when unfurled by Kerala Minister Ahamed Devarkovil on Republic Day in in Kasaragod district Wednesday, January 26. The minister, who holds the ports and archeology portfolios in the Left Democratic Front regime, was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in Kasaragod district headquarters on Wednesday. After unfurling the flag, the minister watched the parade held at the municipal stadium. While he was delivering a speech at the event, media persons covering the ceremony pointed out the mistake. Subsequently, the Tricolour was brought down and unfurled again by the minister, who belongs to CPI(M) ally Indian National League. Congress MP Rajmohan Unnithan, who represents Kasaragod Lok Sabha seat, three legislators from the district, additional district magistrate A K Ramendran and district police superintendent Vaibhav Saxena were also present at the event.

Budget session: Both Houses to convene in shifts : Both the Houses will function in two different shifts in a day during the coming Budget Session of Parliament, it was decided on Monday, as the country continues to remain in grip of the third wave of Covid-19 infections. The budget session begins on January 31. The protocols will be similar to the ones followed during the Monsoon Session of Parliament last year. Held in September 2020, the monsoon session was the first time parliamentary proceedings were held under strict Covid-19 protocol. The Rajya Sabha met in the first half of the day and the Lok Sabha during the second half. Members were seated in both the chambers to ensure social distancing. Similarly, this time around, the Upper House will convene in the morning and the Lok Sabha in the afternoon, a bulletin issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat said on Monday.