Tension prevailed in Keragodu village of Mandya district in Karnataka on Sunday when the authorities removed the Hanuman flag from the 108 feet high pillar. After this incident, political dispute started between the government and the opposition in the state. In view of the tension, the security of the area has been increased. A large number of police personnel have been deployed as a precautionary measure as members of the BJP, Janata Dal Secular (JD-S) and Bajrang Dal, as well as people in and around the village, gathered against the flag lowering. The police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the crowd. After the incident, the police and administration replaced the Hanuman flag (flag with the picture of Lord Hanuman) on the flag pole with the national flag.
#WATCH , Karnataka: Security heightened in Keragodu village, Mandya where the Hanuman flag hoisted by the Gram Panchayat Board of Mandya district on a 108-foot flagpole was brought down by the district administration, yesterday. pic.twitter.com/uAkKC0x5z8
— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2024
Some people protested and complained to the administration
Official and police sources said that residents of Keragodu and 12 neighboring villages and some organizations had donated money for the installation of the flag pole near the Rangamandir. Reportedly, BJP and JD(S) workers were actively involved in this. Sources said that a saffron flag with Hanuman’s picture was hoisted on the flag pole, against which some people protested and complained to the administration. Taking action on this, the Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer directed the Gram Panchayat officials to remove the flag. Many villagers, including a large number of women, strongly opposed the removal of the flag. Fearing that the flag pole would be removed, some workers and villagers were present there since midnight on Saturday.
Tension increased on Sunday morning
After the flag was lowered in the presence of senior officials, tension increased on Sunday morning and a heated argument took place between the police and the protesting villagers and workers. Some protesters expressed their anger towards the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government and Congress MLA from Mandya Ganiga Ravikumar and raised slogans against them. The protesters stuck to their demand and installed a flex board with a picture of Lord Ram along with a small saffron flag at the base of the flag pole.
Police tried to remove the flag
When the police tried to remove the flag, they faced resistance and the protesters raised slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram, Jai Hanuman’. In the afternoon, the police forcefully removed the protesters and resorted to mild lathicharge to restore law and order. After this, the police and administration officials finally removed the Hanuman flag from the flagpole and installed the tricolor. Reacting to the development, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters in the district headquarters town of Chitradurga that instead of hoisting the national flag, the saffron flag was hoisted, “This is not right.” I have asked to hoist the national flag.
The national flag was hoisted on Republic Day
Mandya district in-charge minister N Cheluvarayaswamy clarified that the location of the flag pole falls under the jurisdiction of the panchayat and permission was taken to hoist the national flag. He said the national flag was hoisted on Republic Day “but it was replaced by another flag that evening.” However, he supported installation of the Hanuman flag at a private place or near a temple. Cheluvarayaswamy said, there could be politics behind this (installing the Hanuman flag in place of the national flag). I don’t know who is behind this…this country is run by democracy and constitution.
He said, tomorrow they can say that they want to hoist the flag (saffron flag) in front of the District Magistrate’s office. Can this be allowed? If it is allowed at one place, it will expand to other places also. This is the only concern. Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly and BJP leader R Ashoka condemned the government’s ‘anti-Hindu stance’ and police interference in Bengaluru. He said that the Hanuman flag was installed after the approval of the Gram Panchayat but the Congress government ‘suddenly’ removed it.
Anti-Lord Ram stance was stated
Terming the government’s action as anti-Lord Ram and an insult to Hanuman, he asked, what was the need for police action? Why didn’t the administration talk to the villagers? The Gram Panchayat had passed a resolution to allow the flag. Ashok visited Keragodu village along with other BJP leaders but when he tried to go to the spot, the police detained him and took him to another place.
BJP state unit president BY Vijayendra accused the government of removing the flag through repression and creating a law and order situation. He reiterated that after getting the requisite approval, the flagpole was installed and the flag was hoisted. According to Vijayendra, the Gram Panchayat had earlier passed a resolution to this effect. He said, if the state government has the audacity to remove the flag using police harassment and hooliganism, it shows the height of arrogance of power of the Congress government. Meanwhile, the BJP state president directed party leaders and workers to hold protests at all district headquarters in the state tomorrow (January 29) condemning the ‘anti-Hindu policy’ of the state Congress government and the ‘insult’ to the national flag. Gave. He criticized the removal of the Hanuman flag and claimed that the officials had also insulted the national flag.