BJP was first to moot 'State Flag' for Karnataka, not Congress

The then BJP government was forced to withdraw its circular according to official status to the Karnataka flag.

Contrary to its stand on a separate flag for Karnataka now, the BJP was, in fact, the first to make hoisting of Kannada flags mandatory. While the party is criticising Congress government over its push for two flag policy when in power, it was the BJP that that sought to accord official status to the Karnataka flag.

In 2012, then Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda sought to give the maroon and yellow flag an 'official state flag status'. During his budget speech for the year, 2012-13 Gowda made it mandatory to hoist the Kannada flag during Rajyothsava celebrations in all schools, colleges and government offices.

This was, however, challenged in the Karnataka High court. A division bench comprising then Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna asked the state if any other flag other than the tricolour can be hosted. "Will this not violate the order governing the national flag? When you don't have a state flag, how can you hoist it? Can the state salute such a flag during official functions? It is essential to consider the Union of India's stand on questions whether any flag other than the tricolour can be hoisted by the government. The state should also clarify whether any flag other than the national flag is hoisted at official functions," the bench observed.

The Karnataka government was forced to the withdraw its decision on hoisting the flag. On the eve of Rajyotsava, the Karnataka government issued a notification withdrawing its decision. During the hearing of the case, the Karnataka government in a written submission said, "the State had refused to accept a suggestion to declare the Kannada flag as the official flag for the reason that such a recognition would be against unity and integrity of the country."

Now when the Congress government under Siddaramaiah is moving to bring a two-flag policy, the BJP has made a U-turn and is criticising the government for the same.

OneIndia News