BJP govt not to pursue Congress proposal on separate state flag for Karnataka
Bengaluru, Aug 29: The new BJP government in Karnataka indicated on Thursday it would not pursue with the Centre, the previous Congress government's proposal for a separate state flag that was pending before it.
The government is also mulling over celebrating birth anniversary of prominent personalities in a "different way", as the present practice depicts them only as "community icons".
"Already it is clear in the flag code that- one flag for the country, having a cultural flag is different, having a constitutional flag is different.
Tricolor is the only constitutional flag. There was no opposition for having cultural flag, but constitutionally there is only one flag for the country and that is tricolor flag," Minister for Kannada and Culture C T Ravi said in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters, after holding meeting with officials on assuming office, he said, "... we can have Kannada flag as cultural flag, constitutionally there is no such provision for state flag according to flag code."
Asked whether the state government would not pursue the proposal that was before the central government, he merely said, "the country is one and we only think about unity."
Flagging off the "Kannadiga pride" ahead of the assembly polls, the then Congress government headed by Siddaramaiah in March 2018 had unveiled the proposed official state flag for Karnataka, and had sent it to central government for approval.
Siddaramaiah government had requested the Centre to include the Karnataka flag in the schedule of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1950.
The 'Naada Dwaja' (state's flag) in hues of yellow, white and red, had the state's emblem 'Gandaberunda' or the two-headed mythological bird, at its centre.
A committee formed by the then government had recommended the separate flag for Karnataka, discounting any constitutional or legal hurdles for it.
However, in May 2018 following Siddaramaiah demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi to approve the state flag, a Home Ministry official had said the Karnataka government's proposal to approve an official flag for the state was put on hold as the election code of conduct came into force for upcoming Assembly polls.
The issue had gone to the back burner as Congress lost in the assembly polls.
Ravi also said, the government was mulling over celebrating birth anniversary of prominent personalities differently.
"I'm told that the department celebrates jayanti's (birth anniversary) of 25 prominent personalities and most of the department's efforts are utilised for celebrating these jayanti's.
While a few jayanti's are with public participation, the others are like government sponsored symbolic programme without any public participation," he said.
With regard to celebration of these jayanti's there is plan to consult political leaders of all parties and leaders of various communities, he said," celebration of jayanti's is right, but there is need for a rethink about how it need to be celebrated."
Ravi said, instead of scrapping the celebration of jayanti's "we should discuss and decide on how different they can be celebrated or else the issue may get politicised".
"These jayanti's rather than becoming celebration among masses, were getting limited to certain communities or castes making those personalities as community specific icons, so they need to be celebrated in a different way that the messages of those personalities reach people irrespective of the community they belong to," he added.
Soon after coming to power last month the BJP government had cancelled the annual birth anniversary celebrations of the controversial 18th century ruler of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom, Tipu Sultan, being organised since 2015.
He said, instead of observing various district festivals in a symbolic way, it should be aimed at attracting tourist and people from other states.
"we have got suggestions regarding this, government will think about it."
Out of 278 sanctioned posts in Kannada and Culture department, 111 have been filled while 167 are still vacant, the Minister pointed out.
Noting that Karnataka has huge potential for tourism, Ravi said the government will concentrate in developing infrastructure, policy that will encourage private partnership in the sector, developing connectivity, creating hospitality, and also providing employment opportunities for locals in the sector.
To encourage and attract investment in the tourism sector, the government is thinking about coming out with a programme, he said, adding that the impetus will be given to encourage private partnership.
Pointing out that the department has incurred Rs 41 crore loss due to Golden Chariot (luxury train) project, he said it has been stopped for now.
Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation and state-owned Jungle Lodges were in profit.
"If we manage things professionally, the department can be profitable and create more jobs, that's our aim."
As many as 319 spots have been identified for tourism promotion in the State, which has 40 tourism circuits.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bengal: Over 55 pc turnout till 1 pm in repoll in 15 booths of 2 assembly seats
Kolkata (PTI): Over 55 per cent turnout was recorded till 1 pm in repoll in 15 booths of two assembly constituencies in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Saturday, an official said.
Voting was underway more or less peacefully at 11 polling stations of Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency and four in Diamond Harbour, where the EC ordered repoll a day ago, following reports of electoral malpractices.
However, at booth number 179 at Chanda Primary School of Diamond Harbour seat, the Trinamool Congress alleged that a specially abled voter and his mother were harassed by central forces. The alleged incident sparked protests by party workers and locals.
The TMC claimed that the voter's mother, who had entered the booth to assist him, and her son were detained for a considerable time by central forces over alleged rule violations.
ALSO READ: Man arrested for duping Delhi resident of Rs 2 lakh in online car sale fraud
"TMC leaders Manmohini Biswas and Pratik Ur Rahman reached the spot and led the protests, with residents terming the action unwarranted harassment. The matter has been taken care of by our officials there," an official of the poll body said.
Polling was otherwise peaceful across 15 booths in the area, he added.
Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm, the official said, adding that till 1 pm, the turnout was 55.57 per cent.
Magrahat Paschim registered 56.33 per cent voter turnout, while in Diamond Harbour, it was 54.9 per cent, a poll official stated.
Voting in these two assembly constituencies was held in the second phase of the state elections on April 29.
The repoll order was based on reports received from returning officers and observers of the two constituencies and "material circumstances", the Election Commission official said.
In Magrahat Paschim, TMC's Md Samim Ahamed Molla is pitted against BJP nominee Goursundar Ghosh, while Abdul Majid Halder of the Congress and ISF candidate Abdul Aziz Al Hassan are also in the fray.
TMC candidate Panna Lal Halder is contesting against Dipak Kumar Halder of the BJP in the Diamond Harbour seat. Goutam Bhattacharya of the Congress and CPI(M)'s Samar Naiya are among other candidates.
The BJP had alleged rampant electoral malpractices in certain polling stations of both the assembly seats under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
The EC had deputed its special observer, Subrata Gupta, to fact-check the allegations from the ground.
The poll panel will decide on repolling in the Falta assembly constituency on Saturday.
The West Bengal assembly elections were held in two phases -- April 23 and April 29 -- amid unprecedented security arrangements.
Counting of votes will take place on May 4.
