Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is considering granting official state flag status to the existing Kannada flag, with the legal and policy framework for its recognition likely to be discussed during the forthcoming winter session of the legislature in Belagavi, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Sunday.
The government is also examining a proposal to make the display of the Kannada flag mandatory in government offices and institutions receiving government support. An order encouraging private establishments to hoist the flag is also under consideration, he said.
Shivakumar was speaking to reporters after participating in the 71st Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. He said the government was committed to giving the state flag a legal foundation and ensuring that it received due recognition alongside the national flag.
Legal framework to be discussed in Belagavi
The Chief Minister said the state government had earlier taken a Cabinet decision on the issue and submitted a proposal to the Union government. However, official recognition had not been granted so far.
The government now intends to prepare the necessary legal provisions, guidelines and protocols to establish the framework for recognising and displaying the Kannada flag.
Shivakumar said the matter would be taken up during the Belagavi legislature session, where the rules governing the state flag’s display alongside the national flag would also be discussed.
The proposed framework is expected to address the circumstances and institutions in which the Kannada flag may be displayed, including government offices and institutions receiving state support.
The government is also considering encouraging private establishments to hoist the flag as part of efforts to promote Kannada and the state’s cultural identity.
Appeal for peace in Belagavi
Shivakumar reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting Kannada, Kannadigas and Karnataka’s cultural identity. At the same time, he appealed to Kannada-speaking and Marathi-speaking communities in Belagavi to respect the law and maintain peace.
His remarks came in the backdrop of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti’s (MES) observance of ‘Black Day’ in Belagavi. The organisation has traditionally marked November 1 as a day of protest against the merger of Belagavi with Karnataka.
Responding to the development, Shivakumar said everyone residing in Karnataka must respect the state and its laws. He urged people not to allow linguistic differences to disturb public order.
He also appealed to Kannada organisations and activists to avoid violence or actions targeting establishments in the name of protecting the language. Specifically referring to IT companies, he cautioned against damaging or disrupting businesses over language-related issues.
Government preparing files to withdraw cases
The Deputy Chief Minister also said the government had instructed officials to initiate the process of withdrawing cases registered against Kannada activists.
According to him, the necessary files were being prepared to facilitate the withdrawal of these cases. He indicated that the government was taking steps to move the process forward.
The proposed withdrawal is part of the government’s broader engagement with Kannada organisations and activists, even as it has urged them to pursue language-related concerns peacefully and within the framework of the law.
The discussions on official recognition of the Kannada flag, its display in public institutions and the proposed withdrawal of cases against activists are likely to draw attention during the forthcoming winter session in Belagavi.