‘Separate flag approved to stoke Kannada pride’

In another move in appeasement politics ahead of the polls, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has approved of a Kannada flag to play to Kannada pride. The Cabinet on Thursday has approved a flag for Karnataka recommended by a flag committee set up last year by the ruling Congress Government.

The “Naada Dhwaja” has yellow, white and red colours in three strips and the state emblem–the “Ganda Berunda”, a two headed mythical bird in the middle on the white strip.

The Kannada Development Authority Chairman , S.G. Siddaramaiah presented the design of the flag to the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Vidhana Soudha.  The Chief Minister assured them that they would send it to the Home Ministry in the Centre for approval.

The BJP had opposed this move when the Committee that designed the flag was set up last year.

The Chief Minister said having a state flag was not unconstitutional. “The only thing is we have to hoist it below the national flag, which we will anyway do.”

Karnataka has had an unofficial flag since the mid 1960s.  If the flag is approved by the Centre, Karnataka will be the second state after Jammu & Kashmir to have its own flag.

For both the BJP and Congress Karnataka polls are crucial and people of the state are witnessing a high voltage campaign.