BENGALURU: The Congress high command has reportedly asked Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to be “cautious” and “exercise restraint on sensitive issues” like having a state flag. AICC general secretary KC Venugopal reportedly held a closed-door meeting with the CM and sought clarification on the issue before conveying it to the high command. He asked him to be cautious on emotive issues, particularly with assembly elections around the corner. However, Siddaramaiah told Venugopal that there was a demand from Kannada organisations and writers to have a flag for the state.
Meanwhile, State Law Minister TB Jayachandra said there was legally nothing that can hinder the state to have its own state flag. Addressing the media, he said, “There are three main Acts which govern the issues of flags and flag hoisting. While it speaks of the National Flag and its protocol, the Acts remain silent on the issue of states having its own flag. It is a grey area. Since this is the case, I think there is no problem in Karnataka having its own flag.” Jayachandra also added that his department will deliberate into the legal precedences and other judicial directives before taking a decision.
He said he will now call for the first meeting of the committee formed by the Kannada and Culture department to discuss the legalities and constitutional concerns raised in the public and the opposition, before asking the committee to take it forward.
When asked whether the law department was never consulted in this issue, the minister said, “The setting up of the committee was an administrative decision and that has been taken by the department concerned. We will now look into the legalities with extra caution considering it has become a public debate.” He added that he was unaware of any apprehensions shown by the party high command in the topic. “We have constituted it now. We will see what further can be done,” he said.
