There have been heated debates on declaring the red and yellow flag as the official “state flag” of Karnatka, but it appears that the Stage Government has done little to push forward this agenda.
In fact, some among the nine-member committee formed to study the legalities of the issue have not even received an official communication on their membership, even two days ahead of Kannada Rajyotsava. The names of members were announced on June 6, 2017.
Vice-Chancellor of Hampi Kannada University Mallika Ghanti has not received any communication about her appointment so far. “I came to know about my appointment only through the media. Till date I have not received any letter,” said. Prof. Ghanti.
Chairman Kannada Development Authority S.G. Siddaramaiah, a member, said that he had received the letter two days ago from the Department of Kannada and Culture. President Kannada Sahitya Parishat Manu Baligar, another member, received the letter only on Monday.
Speaking to The Hindu, an indignant Mr. Baligar said: “More than four months after the formation of the committee, I got a letter from the Department of Kannada and Culture about my appointment!” Mr. Siddaramaiah said that though he received the letter, there was no mention about the meeting to discuss the issue.
The committee was constituted following representation on giving official recognion to the Kannada flag from Patil Puttappa, President Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha, Dharwad, and Gundappa Gadada, a social worker from Belagavi, in November, 2014. Following this, there have been many debates on the pros and cons of states having their own flags.
The government going slow on the issue is being attributed to Congress high command reportedly asking Mr. Siddaramaiah to “exercise restraint” in triggering a sensitive and emotive issue in an election year. Whole some have argued that it can be divisive, others have batted for it on the ground that a state flag is does not in any way threaten the national identity. Most recently, historian Ramachandra Guha said, “The yellow and red flag of Karnataka does not threaten the nation.”