Unrest Ignites Following ‘Hanuma Dhwaja’ Removal by Karnataka Police
In a latest event from Karnataka, our trustworthy sources report that the state’s Home Minister, Dr G Parameshwara, has come forward in support of the police action that involved the removal of a controversial ‘Hanuma Dhwaja’ flag from a rural council office in Keragodu village. The act of taking down the flag, raised on a towering 108-ft pole, has stirred a heated debate and has provoked sizable protests by local residents and several political factions such as the BJP, JD(S) and workers of the Bhajrang Dal.
Clarifying the Controversy
In response to the escalating controversy, Parameshwara sought to elucidate the situation. He stated that it is illegal to raise such flags on government-owned properties and added that flags like the ‘Bhagwa Dhwaja’ should be raised only on private lands or places of worship like temples. It came to the forefront that while the villagers had secured necessary permissions to raise the national flag, the Indian Tricolour, they, in contrast, hoisted the ‘Hanuma Dhwaja’. This unauthorized action necessitated the ensuing intervention and subsequent removal of the flag by the police.
Political Contention and Feedback
The event sparked an aggressive backlash from the BJP, which levelled allegations at the Congress-influnced state government, labelling them as anti-Hindu. The BJP leaders called out the government for purportedly displaying disrespect towards the customs and traditions of Hindus. In a rebuttal to these claims, Parameshwara retorted that their faith in Hinduism stood unshaken, but they were also duty-bound to adhere to the legal guidelines. He fervently justified the crackdown by the police and other officials in the Mandya district.
Campaigns Across the State and the Aftermath
In retaliation, the BJP expressed their intent to conduct protests throughout Karnataka. They condemned the state government’s deed and equated it to a blatant disrespect shown towards the ‘Hanuma Dhwaja’. A repercussion of the tense situation was the village-wide bandh observed voluntarily by the locals who also resorted to roadblocks. The uproar and consequential tension have thrust the spotlight on reconciling religious practices with lawful conduct. To leverage the situation for their political mileage, various political groups have amplified the controversy and the ensuing debate.
