Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jul 19: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday July 19 criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) for quoting non-existent clauses of the Constitution and creating a controversy on the proposed state flag for Karnataka.
"The demand for a separate flag is in no way an insult to the national symbols of India,” he said and asserted that the National flag will always be higher.
“The Constitution has not said anything about having or not having a state flag, so why are the BJP and the JD(S) quoting non-existent clauses?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, BJP blamed Congress for flaring a separatist mindset and asserted that the Constitution does not permit a state flag.
Karnataka BJP spokesperson, S Prakash on Tuesday asked the Congress to not indulge in unnecessary controversies and gimmicks and instead respect the national aspiration.
The Karnataka government constituted a nine-member committee to design the state flag. This move triggered a controversy with the opposition alleging that it will be against national unity and integrity.
Currently, Jammu & Kashmir is the only state permitted to fly its own flag under Article 370 of the Constitution that gives the state special autonomous status.
Nagaland is also in the process of getting its own flag under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution.
According to the Indian Constitution, states are not prohibited from having a separate state flag. However, the state flag must fly at a lower height than the national flag.