New Delhi: Hitting out at the Congress for misleading the people and the Assembly, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the party was selectively quoting a part of minister Eshwarappa’s statement on the 'Bhagwa dhwaj' (saffron flag) becoming the national flag in the future.
“Eshwarappa has issued a clarification. He didn't say that saffron flag will be hoisted at the Red fort immediately but in another 300 or 500 years. He said it may or may not happen. He also added that we have accepted the national flag and no one must disrespect it,” Bommai said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
Notably, a week after after Karnataka's Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa said that in the future, the saffron flag may become the national flag, Leader of Opposition in the state, Siddaramiah on Wednesday demanded Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai that the minister should be sacked from the Cabinet.
The Congress MLAs also staged a protest in the Assembly demanding Eshwarappa’s resignation and held the national flag as a mark of their agitation.
Slamming the grand-old party for violating the flag code, the Chief Minister said, “They've used National Flag in Well of the House. There's a flag code, how it has to be used, where it has to be used. We've to use it with respect. Congress has violated the Flag code. People are watching it. Congress failed to act as a responsible opposition party.”
He also said that legally, Eshwarappa hasn’t committed any mistake and no action can be taken against him.
It is to be noted that on February 10, Minister Eshwarappa had said that may be not now, but in the future, the saffron flag will be hoisted at Red Fort and the flag could replace the tri-colour.
This led to a war of words with the Opposition demanding Eshwarappa to be booked on charges of sedition.