Karnataka wants separate state flag, Siddaramaiah govt sets up panel to explore legal options

New Delhi: Months ahead of 2018 Assembly Election, Congress-led Karnataka government has set up a nine member committee to design a state flag, says report. If this move come into being then Karnataka will be the second state in country to officially have a flag of its own after Jammu & Kashmir, which enjoys a special status under Article 370 of the Constitution. The committee will submit its report on giving the state flag identity a legal sanctity.

As per the reports of TOI, the committee was appointed after Siddaramaiah government issued an order on June 6, which nominated the principal secretary of the Kannada and culture department as chairperson of the committee. 

However in 2012, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in power, it had clarified Karnataka HC that it had not accepted the suggestions to declare yellow and red Kannada flag as the official flag of the State, saying, a separate flag would be against the unity and integrity of the country.

Terming the move against the integrity of India, Shoba Karandlaje, BJP MP from Karnataka said that the Bharatiya Janata Party has always fought for one nation, one flag. "Asking for a flag is totally wrong, we don’t support this. Kashmir also should not have such a flag. What Siddaramaiah is doing is against the nation, "CNN-News 18 quoted Karnadlaje as saying. 

On the other hand, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, defended the demand for a separate flag for the state, asking if there is any provision in the Constitution that prohibits the state from having its own flag. "Is there any provision in the Constitution which is prohibiting a state to have its own flag? Did BJP people come across any provision?" Siddaramaiah said. Responding to allegations that it a political gimmick by the Congress, Siddaramaiah said BJP always makes such false allegations.