On Thursday, the Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah said the Congress led State government will comply with their demand of having a separate State flag. He had set up a panel of 9 people to design a flag for the State. The initiative had instantly led to a controversy with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders terming the move as ‘Anti national.’
The senior Congress leader said in a statement that there is no constitutional impediment for any state to have a separate state flag. In addition to it, the CM argued this will not mean or imply that the importance of the national flag will run down. He made a point that a separate State flag is a ‘symbol of our language and culture.’
“We are living in a federal system. We also sing a naadageete, which is not an insult to the national anthem. The national flag will always be respected. What’s wrong if there is a flag as a symbol of our language, land and culture? It will not harm the unity of the nation. Can anyone show me if the Constitution prohibits having a separate flag for the state? Let’s wait for the committee report and take a call,” he explained.
“There has been a demand for a separate flag for Karnataka since 1965. When Kannada activists, including veteran journalist Patil Puttappa, put pressure on the government for a separate flag for Karnataka, we took up the issue. We have set up a committee of experts to study the legal aspects of designing a separate flag for Karnataka legally. We are waiting for the committee to give its opinion, after which we will take a proper decision,” he stated.
Previously, T.B. Jayachandra, the Karnataka Law Minister had also said there is nothing wrong having a separate flag in a State.
“The Indian Constitution has three Articles with regard to flags and flag hoisting. The Constitution speaks of the National Flag and protocol that needs to be followed while handling and hoisting it. It, however, does not say anything about states not being allowed to have a flag of their own. It’s a grey area. So there is no problem with Karnataka having its own flag,” the Law Minister explained on Wednesday.
