Karnataka flag row: CM Siddaramaiah hits back, says BJP, JDS quoting non-existent clauses of Constitution

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday justified his government's demand for a separate state flag and said that it was in no way an insult to the national flag.

The Karnataka Congress veteran also hit back at the BJP and JDS and said that the two parties were quoting non-existent clauses of the Constitution in response to his government's demand for a separate flag. 

"The demand of a separate is in no way an insult to the national symbols of India. We will give as much respect to the National Flag as always. The Constitution has not said anything about having or not having a state flag, so why are the BJP and the JDS quoting non-existent clauses?,'' he said.

On June 6, we decided to form this panel (state flag), it was not for any political reason. National flag will always be higher, he added.

However, the BJP asserted that the Constitution does not permit such a step.

Speaking to ANI, Karnataka BJP spokesperson, S Prakash yesterday said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is unnecessarily making controversies over the matter.

"The Constitution does not permit a separate flag for the state. We have a National Flag that we all respect. Hope that the Congress party, which represents the national aspiration, will not indulge in such gimmicks," he said.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Government has constituted a nine-member committee to submit a report to the state government on the possibility of designing a separate flag for the state. 

With ANI inputs