Congress government in Karnataka forms panel on a separate flag for state after the Karnataka government had initiated the move, sparking a row on Monday, but Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stoutly defended the step.
The committee, headed by the principal secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture, was set up last month following a representation from noted Kannada writer and journalist Patil Puttappa, and social worker Bheemappa Gundappa Gadada.
As the move by the Congress government to set up a panel for this purpose ahead of the state Assembly polls due in 2018 came under attack, the Centre made it clear there is no provision in the Constitution for a separate flag for any state, and that the tricolour is the only flag for India.
If the flag comes into being, Karnataka will be the second state to have its official flag after Jammu and Kashmir, which enjoys a special status under Article 370 of the Constitution.
The Chief Minister has defended the move, saying there is no constitutional provision against it. Hitting out at the BJP, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said
Did BJP people say they do not want a flag for Karnataka state? Let them make a statement that ‘we do not want a flag for Karnataka state’. The BJP people always level such a false allegation
Union Minister and BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy said he only knew of the national flag and could not comprehend the Karnataka government's plan for a separate state flag.
I do not know what it means. We all agree with one Constitution and one national flag. I do not know of any other flag. The country cannot think of any other flag
Condemning the move, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut demanded imposition of President's rule in Karnataka.
I think it is anti-constitutional for a state to make such a demand in a federal structure and is against the national integrity. Such a government should be immediately dismissed and President’s rule should be imposed there.
The unofficial but widely seen red and yellow 'Kannada flag' that is hoisted across the state on 1 November every year to commemorate the state’s formation day, and used in the form of a scarf by Kannada activists, was designed by Veera Senani Ma.Ramamurthy in the 1960s.
Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
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