Context:

• The Siddaramaiah government unveiled the State flag ( nada dhwaja ) for Karnataka.

Other Facts:

• If approved by the Centre, Karnataka will be the second State to have a flag after Jammu and Kashmir.
• The red-white-yellow flag has the State emblem at the centre.
• The proposal will be now sent to the Union Home Ministry for approval since a State has no powers to announce its own flag.
• Ahead of the Assembly elections, a separate flag has been part of the ruling Congress’ campaign focussing on regional pride.

Nine-member panel

• The decision followed a meeting of leaders of Kannada organisations and littérateurs convened to discuss the recommendations of a nine-member expert committee constituted to study and submit a report on the possibility of the State having a flag.
• The State Cabinet had earlier approved the proposal of having separate flag for Karnataka and empowered Mr. Siddaramaiah to take the final call after discussions. When asked about the Constitutional provisions for a State to have its own flag, Mr. Siddaramaiah said there was no bar in the Constitution on the States having their own flag.
• “The State flag will fly below the national flag as prescribed. “The BJP State unit should now bring pressure on the Union government to speed up the approval process,

Source:TH