From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Updated
Bengaluru, Mar 8: Deftly carving out the ruling Congress party’s electoral strategy for the forthcoming assembly elections in Karnataka, the State Government has accorded its formal approval for a separate State flag featuring three colours of yellow, white and red with Karnataka’s official emblem – Gandaberunda – at the centre.
Gandaberunda, the State’s official emblem, is a two-headed mythical bird that represents Karnataka.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who announced the formal approval for the recommendation by the nine-member committee headed by Kannada Development Authority Chairman S G Siddaramaiah, said the separate State flag has been a long-standing demand of Kannadigas and several pro-Kannada organisations.
Kannada Development Authority Chairman Siddaramaiah, in the report submitted to the Chief Minister recently, had recommended a tricolour flag for the State and even suggested the colour scheming.
The government panel had suggested that the official flag should replace an unofficial two-coloured one that is being widely used by pro-Kannada organisations.
With the decision of approving the design and colour scheming of the State flag, the State Government is now all set to make a formal application to the Centre seeking a separate flag for Karnataka.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has been cleverly playing the Kannada identity politics and invoke the spirit of Kannada pride, has made it clear that a separate flag for a State is not unconstitutional as there is no specific bar on State’s having separate flags.
"As long as the State does not show disrespect to the national tricolour and hoists the State flag below the national flag, there is no problem. We are a law abiding people. While Karnataka is our homeland, India is our country," Siddaramaiah said and pointed out that the State Government would send its application to the Centre shortly. "We hope it will be approved quickly," he said.
It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had been vehemently opposing the imposition of Hindi, especially in the signages of Namma Metro, which has maximum funding from the State.
The State Government would make a formal application to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, under whose purview the issue falls.
The chosen design of the flag incorporates red and yellow strips, with white in the middle and the State emblem is at the centre but without the words ‘Satyameva Jayate’ displayed in the National tricolour keeping various norms in mind.
The committee opted for a design which carries the spirit of the existing yellow-and-red Kannada flag’ with white colour at the centre.
The State emblem would figure on the white, said a member of the committee.
By making a formal application, the government is lobbing the ball in the Centre’s court, and it could be an added agenda in poll-bound Karnataka to claim regional identity under the federal structure.
The pro-Kannada groups, who have been vehemently demanded official state flag, have raised issue about the official flag for the state.
If Ministry of Home Affairs clears the proposal, Karnataka will be the second state after Jammu and Kashmir to have an official state flag.
It may be recalled that a home ministry official had earlier said that there was no legal bar on a State having a separate flag as it represents people and not the government.
The unofficial flag of Karnataka was not used at ceremonies like Republic Day or Independence Day but on occasions like the State’s foundation day, popularly known as Rajyothsava Day.