A nine-member committee led by Kannada Development Authority chairman G.S. Siddaramaya recommended a three-coloured official state flag for Karnataka yesterday. Recommendations of this panel are expected to be considered by the state cabinet soon.
The Government of Karnataka’s department of Kannada and Culture had set up this committee in June last year to ascertain the feasibility and legality of having an official state flag. The committee recommended a flag coloured red and yellow along with a white band in the middle with the state’s emblem on it.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state cabinet will first consider this flag and then forward their proposals to the union Ministry of Home Affairs for clearance. If approved, Karnataka will become the second Indian state, after Jammu & Kashmir, to have its own state flag.
Pro-Kannada groups opposed this flag and said they will protest on the streets of Karnataka if the government takes this decision. Former MLA and chief of a popular pro-Kannada group Vetal Nagaraj said Karnataka government must use its unofficial flag and not make any changes in it.
The current unofficial flag, coloured yellow and red, is used widely throughout the state and is raised every year on 1st November, Karnataka’s foundation day. It was designed by popular Kannada writer and activist Ma Ramamurthy for a political party called Kannada Paksha in 1960s.
Opposition leaders from BJP had previously supported the idea of a state flag but questioned the timing of this decision considering the fact that assembly polls are right round the corner. Karnataka is expected to go to polls in April or May this year and issues concerning Kannada pride will play a big role during campaigns.