Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has been batting for a State flag, has said a national flag and a State flag are not mutually incompatible.
“Upholding the uniqueness of Kannada within the principles of the Constitution is our duty and responsibility. Hence, just like we have a State anthem, we believe that we should also have a State flag,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said after inaugurating the 83rd Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana here on Friday.
“State anthem-national anthem and State flag-national flag are mutually complementary and not mutually incompatible,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.
He also invoked poet laureate Kuvempu while referring to the federal structure of the Constitution, and said States enjoyed the right to protect their respective region’s interests in terms of their crops, industries, economy, literature, and culture. If the States’ rights to protect their interests are frustrated, the very meaning and purpose of the country’s freedom will be defeated, he said.
Reiterating the State government’s commitment to education in mother tongue, the Chief Minister said legal hurdles coming in the way of realising this goal could be overcome through a constitutional amendment.
Mr. Siddaramaiah said the State had written two letters to the Centre in this regard, and the matter would be taken up at the next meeting of Chief Ministers of all States.
