Karnataka Hanuman flag row: CM Siddaramaiah defends the move amid protest
Siddaramaiah Sunday justified the move of Mandya district authorities to take down a Hanuman flag from a 108-feet pole in Keragodu village, saying the national flag should have been hoisted instead, news agency PTI reported. "It is not right. I have asked (the authorities concerned) to hoist the national flag," the news agency quoted the chief minister as saying.
The move has triggered a massive controversy. A large contingent of police personnel has been deployed in the village as a precautionary measure after locals (people from the 12 surrounding villages) gathered to protest against the removal of the saffron flag (Hanuma Dwaja). Opposition is blaming the ruling Congress for the unrest.
"When the Gram Panchayat board decided to hoist the Hanuman flag in the village of Keragodu in Mandya district, the state government showed the audacity to bring down the flag through the police force. The Congress government is the reason behind the deteriorating law and order situation of the state," said Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra. During the day, the district authorities removed the 'Hanuma dwaja', a saffron flag bearing lord Hanuman's portrait, from a 108-ft-tall flag post in Keragodu village ofMandya.
Earlier today, the locals supported by the activists of BJP, JD(S) and Bajrang Dal launched a massive protest against the authorities for trying to remove the flag. Several villagers, including a significant number of women, vehemently protested against the removal. The district police had to resort to a lathicharge to disperse the crowd.
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