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State Flag creates nationwide controversy

  • The State government has formed a 9-member committee to recommend the State Flag
  • The process is to accord legal status to the already existing Kannada flag
  • There is no objection in the Constitution for separate flag but it cannot be hoisted above the national flag
  • State’s decision has created a nationwide debate with many making extreme comments
  • Authors, scholars, eminent personalities have wholeheartedly welcomed the government’s decision
  • CM alleges BJP is creating unnecessary controversy
State Flag creates nationwide controversy

The State government has decided to form a 9-member committee to recommend the State flag, a demand of several decades by the Kannada activists. The Kannada and Culture department general secretary will be the chairman of the committee with heads of DPAR, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department and Kannada Development Authority as members.

The reason for forming this committee is that the red and yellow Kannada flag does not have the legal sanction, even though it is very much in use since decades. The committee will act towards legalising the Kannada flag, reports Kannada Prabha. Senior writer and activist Dr Patil Puttappa, president of Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha, Dharwad and social worker Bhimappa Gundappa Gadad had appealed to the government to for a separate flag for Karnataka. The government on examination decided to legalise the Kannada flag.

However, the State government’s decision has created a flutter nationwide. The Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has defended his decision to have a separate flag for the State. He has strongly criticised the Opposition BJP’s protest to having a separate State flag. He also said that BJP is unnecessarily creating a controversy regarding Kannada issue.  Speaking to newspersons on Tuesday, the CM said the State song has already been legalised, and legalising the State Flag has started. There is nothing wrong in having a state flag. A committee has been formed and based on its report further action will be taken, he said.

He also challenged the BJP to protest against the Kannada flag. The national flag must fly highest and the State flag must fly below that. There is no intention of replacing national flag. Most importantly, there is no objection in the Constitution to having a separate flag for the state, he said. The BJP is alleging that the State flag issue has been taken up due to the coming elections but the elections are in next May and BJP is acting as if the elections are tomorrow. BJP is putting the State in bad light by making a controversy of a non-issue because we are not against national flag. The respect we have for national flag can never come down by having a State flag, he said.

Both BJP and JD(S) leaders have condemned the State government's decision to legalise the Kannada flag. JD(S) State president H D Kumaraswamy said the State government has taken up the flag issue to divert attention of the public from other serious issues.  BJP's Shobha Karandlaje has criticised the government for its decision to have a separate  flag for the State. 

The 'Nada Geethe' 'Jai Bharata Jananiya Tanujate', written by K V Puttappa was popular for decades before it was officially announced as the State Song. In 2003, on account of Kuvempu centenary celebrations, the song was announced as the State Song. Hence at all government programmes first national anthem and then State song are sung.  The Kannada flag, once accorded the legal status will be hoisted along with the national flag.

States having separate flags, along with national flags is not a new concept. In United States, all 50 states have separate flags. In Brazil too, 27 states have separate flags along with the national flag. So also in Australia and Germany.

Is there a provision for having separate flags for states in the Constitution? Senior advocate K V Dhananjaya says there is no mention of separate flag in the Constitution, however, there is no objection to having a separate flag. The government must not impose the State flag to be hoisted at government buildings. Also the government must not resort to punishment for violation.

In fact, in 2012 the State government had issued an order on October 4, stating that all schools, colleges and government buildings should hoist Kannada flag on November 1, Rajyotsava day. Advocate Prakash Shetty had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with the High Court taking objection to pro-Kannada outfits misusing the Kannada flag imposing it on all. He had also objected to the circular. While hearing the case, justice V J Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna had questioned if the State government had accorded legal status to Kannada flag. It had also observed that the Kannada flag cannot be hoisted instead of or at the same level as the national flag. Considering all these facts, the State government has initiated the process to accord legal status to the Kannada flag.

However, the mere forming of committee has created a nationwide debate with many who are ignorant of the history of Kannada flag making extreme comments. Shiv Sena of Maharashtra has alleged that the State’s decision to form the committee is anti-national act and has recommended President’s rule in Karnataka. The Union Home Ministry has said that the we are one nation, one flag. There are no provisions in the law to either permit or restrict separate flag for states. However, the Kannada flag that is already in use in Karnataka is people’s flag and does not represent the government.

Authors, scholars and eminent personalities of the State have wholeheartedly welcomed the State government’s decision to accord legal status to the Kannada flag.

 

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