Karnataka: Congress MLAs Sleepover In Assembly Demanding Minister Eshwarappa's Resignation Over Saffron Flag Remark

Minister Eshwarappa had said that the saffron flag could become the national flag and it will be unfurled in the Red Fort.

Congress MLAs at the Assembly | Credit: ANI

Chennai: The Congress MLAs in Karnataka staged a protest on Thursday by spending their night in the Assembly even after the session ended demanding the resignation of Minister KS Eshwarappa and to slap a sedition case against him. 

According to a report on ANI, Minister Eshwarappa said that the saffron flag could become the national flag and it will be unfurled in the Red Fort. Soon after the statement, the Congress leaders staged a protest by holding a national flag in the Assembly and demanding the resignation of the Minister. 

Following this, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said that Congress was violating the flag code in the Assembly and alleged that Congress failed to act responsibly as an Opposition party in the Assembly. 

Bommai said, the Opposition has used the national flag in the well of the House but there is a flag code on the ways the flag should be used. The national flag should be held with respect but Congress has violated it.

On the statement of Eshwarappa, Bommai said, the Congress leaders are selectively quoting only a few portions of the Minister's statement. This act is misleading the Assembly, he said. 

Further, Bommai said, Eshwarappa has given clarification and said that the saffron flag will not be hoisted immediately but after another 300-500 years. However, he also said it may or may not happen.

Eshwarappa did not make any mistake in this and we have accepted the national flag, he said. 

The CM Basavaraj Bommai along with Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri met Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah to hold talks in the Assembly but there were no conclusions from the meeting.