Row over removal of Hanuman flag boils over in Karnataka's Mandya; Section 144 in place

Protests continued to rock Karnataka's Mandya on Monday too with the BJP and the JD(S) staging a protest march against the removal of the saffron flag bearing Lord Hanuman's picture by the district administration.  

The flag was hoisted by a group of men last week on a 108-foot flagpole in Keragodu village. Though the local body authorities claimed it granted permission for the installation of the flagpole, the district administration took down the 'Hanuman Dwaja' and replaced it with the Indian flag following complaints.

This led to a political confrontation between the government and the opposition in the state, following which the state deployed a contingent of police force as a precautionary measure. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too defended the removal of the flag, stating that it was not right to raise  'bhagwa dwaja' instead of hoisting the national flag. "It is not right. I have asked (the authorities concerned) to hoist the national flag," he said. 

However, things failed to cool down on Monday too with a section of people with support from BJP, JD(S), Bajrang Dal workers and activists continued to protest. The protesters began their march to the Deputy Commissioner's office in the district headquarters of Mandya city, holding saffron flags as a mark of protest. They are likely to be joined by JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy. 

The BJP condemned the "anti-Hindu policy" of the Congress state government and accused it of "insulting" the national flag. In Bengaluru, BJP staged a protest at Mysuru Bank circle under the leadership of Jayanagara MLA C K Ramamurthy. They were detained and taken away by the police. Police said no permission was granted to stage a protest at the site. 

Police have also erected barricades around the flagpole and CCTV cameras have been installed in the area to secure the place and to ensure that no untoward incident occurs.  Most shops and establishments have remained shut in the village after protestors called for a voluntary shutdown. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been issued in the village.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar defended the government's actions. "They should have basic common sense. Let them do politics, not take the law into their hands. We respect all religions. We can't allow anyone to take the law into their hands," Shivakumar said speaking to reporters on Monday.