The forgotten flag: Karnataka remains divided as Modi govt sits on sanction for state flag
StateDraft

The forgotten flag: Karnataka remains divided as Modi govt sits on sanction for state flag

The BJP has accused the Congress of using the flag to exploit Kannadiga pride for votes.

   
Siddaramaiah unveiling the state flag | Twitter

Siddaramaiah unveiling the state flag in November, 2018. | Twitter

The BJP has accused the Congress of using the flag to exploit Kannadiga pride for votes.

Bengaluru: It has three horizontal bands that seek to represent wealth (yellow), peace (white) and valour (red).

Sitting at the centre is the Gandabherunda, a mythological two-headed bird with magical powers, and the Ashok Chakra, in a crest that serves as the state government’s official emblem.

Together, they form a flag that is supposed to be the symbol of a people within a people – of regional pride and a culture that is, despite the similarities, distinct from that of their compatriots.

The previous Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of Karnataka unveiled the state flag amid much fanfare and controversy in March this year.

While many in the state saw this ‘tricolour’ as a depiction of their unique identity, others called it an attack on patriotism. Jammu & Kashmir is so far the only Indian state to have its own flag, and several people questioned the need for such regional assertion within one country.

Eight months on, the flag remains to be unfurled, metaphorically speaking.

The Karnataka government had forwarded its proposal to the home ministry for approval, where it remains to this day. Meanwhile, the idea continues to divide Karnataka, which has since seen a change in government and is now led by a coalition of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular).

‘Nothing illegal’

The Karnataka tricolour was designed by a nine-member committee set up by the Siddaramaiah government. Led by the principal secretary of the Kannada and culture department, the panel was also tasked with studying the legality of the state having a separate flag. At the March launch, Siddaramaiah said there was no constitutional provision that barred states from having their own flags.

“We will urge the Centre to approve the proposal and make an official announcement at the earliest,” he had told ThePrint at the time. “There is nothing illegal about a state having its own separate flag and there is nothing unconstitutional about it either. The state flag will always fly below the national flag.”

However, a senior BJP functionary ThePrint spoke to said he did not see any reason why Karnataka should have its own flag to display Kannadiga pride.

BJP MP Pratap Simha, on the other hand, said the Congress’ push for the flag was nothing but political posturing.

“When Sadananada Gowda (BJP) was the Karnataka CM, he issued a circular saying all government departments should play the Nada-Geete (state anthem) at every function,” he added, “This is being followed even today. All that had to be done was issue a similar circular that a state flag may be unfurled below the national flag during government functions. Why is the Congress dragging the central government into this?”

“They are indulging in nothing but political posturing at the cost of Kannadiga pride,” he said.

Gowda, who served as chief minister from 2011 to 2012, had issued a notification to accord official status to the state flag through a notification. It allowed hoisting of the state flag on government buildings, schools and colleges on Rajyotsava (State formation day), but the notification had to be withdrawn after the Karnataka High Court questioned the legality of states having their own flag.

It is this dilemma that the Centre faces today, with senior BJP leaders of the opinion that allowing a separate flag may open a Pandora’s box for a country as diverse as India.

The Congress, however, has latched on to the delay to allege the Centre didn’t believe in diversity.

“They only believe in a homogenous community, they believe in Hindutva or Hindustan and nothing else,” said Congress Rajya Sabha member Nasir Hussain.

“They don’t believe in pluralism. They don’t believe in respecting different cultures in the country. India has always been a country that celebrated unity in diversity and a state flag symbolises our regionalism,” he added.

“We have our national flag to display our unity. When the states in the US can have different flags and yet be patriotic as a country, why should India feel any different?” Hussain said.


Also read: With a flag, Siddaramaiah appeals to Kannada pride and checkmates Modi


 

Status report to be sought

Manu Baligar, president of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat and a member of the flag panel, requested the Centre for quick clearance, saying he did not see any valid reasons for the delay.

“I also request Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to prevail upon the Centre to get it done at the earliest,” he added.

There has been little movement on the matter since the new government took office with Kumaraswamy at the helm.

However, incumbent Kannada and culture minister R. Jayamala, a member of the Congress, said earlier this week that her department was going to write to the union ministry of home affairs (MHA) to ask about the status of the flag.

There are fears that if the Centre clears this proposal, it may trigger a sensitive and emotive controversy in the country, especially in an election year. However, several people, including the likes of historian Ramachandra Guha, have argued that regional flags are no threat to a nation’s unity.