Saffron flag controversy: K’taka Cong sport black armbands in assembly

Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress MLAs and MLCs wore black armbands as a sign of protest over Minister Eshwarappa’s ‘saffron flag’ statement during the Governor’s address at the assembly session.

Senior BJP leader and Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj KS Eshwarappa had claimed ‘Bhagwa dhwaj’ (saffron flag), may become the national flag sometime in the future.

“Hundreds of years ago the chariots of Sri Ramachandra and Maruthi had saffron flags on them. Was the tricolour flag there in our country then? Now it (tricolour) is fixed as our national flag, what respect it has to be given, should be given by every person who takes food in this country, there is no question about it,” Mr Eshwarappa added.

His remarks come amidst growing protests over hijab in government colleges.

The Congress leaders demanded strict action against the Minister for his remarks and also claimed that BJP government has failed in resolving the Hijab issue.