Hanuman Flag removal in Karnataka's Mandya triggers Congress-BJP slugfest
Bengaluru/IBNS: A controversy over the erection of a Hanuman flag instead of the tricolour in the Keragodu village of Karnataka's Mandya has triggered a slugfest between the ruling Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), media reports said.
The controversy broke out last week when a group of people erected a 108-foot flagpole and raised a Hanuman flag.
After complaints were filed, the officials of the village panchayat requested the removal of the flag.
Remaining firm, the villagers protested against the flag removal.
BJP, Janata Dal Secular and Bajrang Dal joined the villagers in protesting against the flag removal.
Karnataka Police detained protesters in Bengaluru over the Mandya Hanuman flag issue.
— Ashwini Shrivastava (@AshwiniSahaya) January 29, 2024
Heavy force was deployed in Keragodu village of Mandya district
The Mandya district administration yesterday took down the Hanuman flag hoisted by the Gram Panchayat Board on a 108-foot… pic.twitter.com/GYXGvZwiUN
The protest intensified on Saturday when officials went to the village to remove Hanuman Flag prompting the villagers to shout "Go Back" Slogan.
Local Congress MLA Ravi Kumar's banners were vandalised in an escalation of the protest.
The opposition BJP has slammed the removal of the flag and planned to protest across the state, which voted the saffron party out of power last year.
Despite opposition, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said as quoted by NDTV, "It is not right. I have asked (the authorities concerned) to hoist the national flag."
