Minister's comments on "saffron flag" caused a stir

The Congress MLAs in Karnataka's legislature erupted overnight, led by former chief minister Siddarmaiah, overstate minister KS Eshwarappa's remark that "the saffron flag may become the national flag in the future." The BJP government, on the other hand, has endorsed the minister.

The 73-year-old minister's remark has sparked widespread outrage. He dismissed the protests on Thursday, saying, "Let them protest." I won’t budge."

On Thursday night, DK Shivakumar and other opposition MLAs were seen inside the assembly holding a sit-in and chanting slogans. They urged that the minister be charged for sedition.

As a tweet was also shared by the Karnataka Congress

In a tweet, the Karnataka Congress claimed. The state parliament was thrown into pandemonium for the second day in a row on Thursday as a result of the issue. “It is a matter of pride in our country and of protecting it's honour and the dignity of the national flag. How can the party that built India stand back and watch as others insult it? The dharna will continue until a sedition case is filed against @ikseshwarappa.”

On Thursday night, DK Shivakumar informed reporters that "we will protest all day and night." “They want to change the constitution. They want to change the national flag… the minister is admitting what he said. The Chief Minister has not sacked him. So we are demanding that he has to resign.”

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai backed the state minister, insisting that the remark was taken out of context. “Eshwarappa has issued a clarification. He didn't say that saffron flag will be hoisted at the Red fort immediately but in another 300 or 500 years. He said it may or may not happen. He also added that we have accepted the national flag and no one must disrespect it,” On Wednesday, the chief minister said.

He also added, “They are selectively quoting only a part of his statement and are misleading the people in the state and the assembly. Legally, Eshwarappa has not committed any mistake and no action can be taken against him.”

The debate arises as a result of a simmering hijab dispute in the southern state, which is currently being heard in the high court through a spate of petitions.  “Hundreds of years ago the chariots of Sri Ramachandra and Maruthi had saffron flags on them. Was the tricolour flag there in our country then? Now it (tricolour) is fixed as our national flag, what respect it has to be given, should be given by every person who takes food in this country, there is no question about it." The remark that is at the center of the debate.

“Discussions are today taking place in the country on ‘Hindu vichara’ and ‘Hindutva’. People used to laugh at one point when we said Ram Mandir will be constructed in Ayodhya, aren’t we constructing it now? In the same way some time in the future, after 100 or 200 or 500 years Bhagwa dhwaj may become the national flag. I don’t know,” he said. The minister, in response to a question, stated that the saffron flag may be raised at the Red Fort in the future.

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