Karnataka: Trouble Mounts Over Removal Of Savakar's Nameplate, Saffron Flag

On January 21, few local villagers set up a flag post and put up saffron flags on it and placed the nameplate of Veer Savarkar.

An additional police force has been deployed in the area following the second incident in the last two weeks.

Source : Special arrangement

After a controversy over the removal of the Hanuman flag in Mandya district, a new dispute arose as the district administration took down the nameplate of freedom fighter Veer Savarkar from a circle in Uttar Kannada. Tensions escalated on Tuesday when gram panchayat officials, accompanied by police, halted the construction of the flag post and removed Veer Savarkar's nameplate in Tenginagundi gram panchayat of Uttar Kannada District.

On January 21, a few local villagers set up a flag post and put up saffron flags on it. They also placed the nameplate of Veer Savarkar for the circle.

However, the problem started after local panchayat officers demolished it on Tuesday. The locals immediately entered into an argument and took to a dharna. Following this, BJP workers and locals claimed that the administration gave permission for the flag post and named the circle 'Veer Savarkar Circle' in 2022.

However, the local administration said the panchayat members did not take any permission to construct the flag post or name the circle for Veer Savarkar Circle.

Subsequently, the district administration ordered to issue notices to all structures in the Tenginagudi gram panchayat. They decided to instruct all structures if authorised to produce the documents within 15 days and if not unauthorised structures and nameboards would be removed.

An additional police force has been deployed in the area following the second incident in the last two weeks. On January 14, residents of Kjali Panchayat tried to repaint a recently installed stone board as Devi Nagar but faced opposition from officials who cited the presence of a nearby mosque.

Earlier, tension prevailed in Mandya after district authorities removed the Hanuman flag and hoisted the Tricolour instead. Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy also condemned the removal of the flag.