In Krishnarajapete (KR Pete) town of Mandya district, workers from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), and other Hindu outfits staged a protest on Sunday against the removal of the “Bhagwa Dwaj” at the travellers bungalow (TB) circle. The controversy erupted when the KR Pete municipal council reportedly removed the Bhagwa flag overnight, sparking outrage among Sangh Parivar outfits.
According to municipal authorities, the removal was in accordance with state government directives prohibiting religious symbols, statues, flags, or portraits in public spaces. Raju Kalappa Vatar, the chief officer of KR Pete municipality, clarified that no permission was sought for the installation, which was considered unauthorized. The decision also aimed to prevent potential tension, following requests from the local Dalit Sangharsh Samithi to install an Ambedkar circle in the area.
BJP and VHP workers denounced the move as anti-Hindu, emphasizing that the Bhagwa flag had been a fixture at the circle for decades along with portraits of revered figures like Basavanna, Ambedkar, Sangolli Rayanna, and Kempe Gowda. They criticized the sudden enforcement, contrasting it with the tolerance shown towards similar symbols in other parts of the state.
N. Nataraj, a BJP municipal councillor, condemned the action as a desecration of Hindu sentiments, questioning the fairness of such decisions if they pertained to symbols of other religions.
The incident has stirred local sentiments and drawn attention to religious freedoms and public space regulations.