While the Cross was removed in 2001, it came back in 2004. The reason: The new flag was indistinguishable as the blue of the Navy crest merged with the skies and the sea.
New Delhi, Sep 02: With the commissioning of the indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant, the Indian Navy also got a new ensign today. This is an important step as the new ensign has done away with the colonial past with the St George’s Cross being taken out.
This is the fourth time that a change has been made in the naval ensign. While the St. George’s Cross has remained in the ensign ever since India gained independence, it was removed briefly between 2001 and 2004 when the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government was in power. When the UPA led by Congress president Sonia Gandhi came to power in 2004, the Cross was back in the ensign.
During the Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that there was a need to decolonise India. He also called for the decolonisation and urged everyone to look for the traces of slavery around them so that the nation could eliminate these traces.
Vicky Nanjappa 
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