Bengaluru: Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah Wednesday demanded that a sedition case be filed against the State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa for his controversial remarks against the national flag. Last week, Eshwarappa had said that "not now but in the future saffron flag may become the national flag". "He has no right to continue as a Minister after what he has said," said Siddaramaiah demanding that the BJP minister be sacked.
He pointed out that sedition cases were filed against farmers for hoisting flags at the Red Fort and the same should be done in the case of Eshwarappa. "Eshwarappa has made a statement that a saffron flag will be hoisted on the Red Fort in the place of the national flag, which is the symbol of our dignity...He made this statement on February 9, it was reported on February 10, today is February 16, till now the government has not taken any action against him," Siddaramaiah said.
Replying to Siddaramaiah's demand, Karnataka Law Minister JC Madhu Swamy, in the Assembly, said, "Eshwarappa was asked by media if a saffron flag would be hoisted on Red Fort. In response, he said maybe, one day. For us, the national flag is our flag." Chaos ensued in the Karnataka Assembly during the argument when State Congress president D K Shivakumar and Eshwarappa charged towards each other and stopped short of coming to blows following a heated altercation between the two.
The incident took place when Siddaramaiah sought to move an adjournment motion seeking dismissal of Eshwarappa's dismissal and sedition case against him. When Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri wanted to hear Eshwarappa's version, Shivakumar opposed it. He said, "we cannot allow him (Eshwarappa to speak)."
Responding to it, Eshwarappa made some comments from his seat, but his voice got drowned in the din. Shivakumar claimed that Eshwarappa said "this (House) is not your (Shivakumar) father's property." Shivakumar along with some Congress MLAs started advancing towards Eshwarappa who also headed towards them. Seeing that the situation may go out of control, the Speaker adjourned the House. Marshals along with MLAs from both parties had to intervene to defuse the situation.
Read: Karnataka Minister says one day we will hoist saffron flag atop Red Fort
