A massive political row erupted in Karnataka over removal of a saffron flag, with the BJP and JDS holding protests against the Congress government in the state.
The incident took place in Keragodu village of Karnataka’s Mandya last week when authorities brought down a saffron flag hoisted by the Gram Panchayat Board of Mandya district on a 108-foot flagpole and replaced it with the tricolour.
This took a political turn after the BJP, JDS and Bajrang Dal members reached the village and started protesting against the district administration.
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They allegedly vandalised banners of local Congress MLA and accused the state government of being anti-Hindu.
As the situation turned tense, the administration deployed heavy force in the area to prevent any untoward incident.
Reacting to the controversy, Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar accused the BJP-JDS of doing politics to establish a political foothold in Mandya and disturb the peace of the state.
“They want to establish a political foothold in Mandya. They are just creating confusion in the minds of the public. Nothing will happen. The people of Mandya are very tolerant and secular… This is pure politics. And they wanted to destabilise the peace of the state. We want peace, let us maintain peace…,” Shivakumar said.
Earlier today, Karnataka Police detained BJP workers protesting in Bengaluru over the Mandya flag issue.
Meanwhile, Section 144 has been imposed in Keragodu where the saffron flag was replaced with the tricolour.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has also accused the BJP of raising unnecessary issues and said the permission was taken to hoist the national flag and Kannada flag. Siddaramaiah said he is also a Hindu but believes in co-existence.
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