The statement of replacing the Tricolor with the saffron flag on Red Fort has seen the heat in Karnataka Assembly. The Opposition Congress escalated its demand for the resignation of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister K.S. Eshwarappa on Thursday, enacting a night-long dharna in both Houses of the State Assembly over his contentious statements on raising the saffron flag on Red Fort. The Congress, which has been conducting a dharna in both Houses since Wednesday, seeking Mr. Eshwarappa’s resignation, maintained its dharna on Thursday, even after the Houses adjourned for the day.
Eshwarappa said Tricolor will be replaced with Saffron
K.S. Eshwarappa said that one day tricolor will be replaced by the saffron flag on Red Fort. Several senior Congress politicians, including Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah and KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar, remained in the Assembly to participate in the night-long dharna. They stated that the party would pursue Mr. Eshwarappa’s resignation to its natural conclusion.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Speaker Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri, and previous Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa all addressed the protesting Congress members in the Assembly, pleading with them to abstain from their planned night dharna. The members of Congress, on the other hand, stated that they were adamant in their decision.
As soon as both Houses began their morning sessions, Congress members raced to the House well and resumed their dharna. Mr. Kageri moved an obituary motion and expressed condolences on the demise of Mallur Ananda Rao, a former MLA, and MLC.
Additionally, the Speaker concluded question hour within the dharna. The Speaker adjourned the House for lunch as Congress members continued to shout slogans. The Assembly’s post-lunch session lasted just over five minutes when members of the Opposition Congress resumed their dharna.
Despite Mr. Kageri’s invitation to Mr. Siddaramaiah to engage in the debate on the motion of gratitude for the Governor’s address, the protesting members refused to end their dharna. The Speaker adjourned the House for the day while the boisterous protest persisted.
Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, who had previously rejected an adjournment motion, permitted members to express their views on the flag issue in the Council. Maritibbe Gowda of the JD(S) and A.H. Vishwanth of the BJP urged the Chief Minister to intervene and address the matter to avoid wasting House hours.
While defending Mr. Eshwarappa, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra charged Congress with “attempting to distract public attention away from the hijab problem.” Additionally, he defended Mr. Eshwarappa, referring to him as a “patriot.” B.K. Hariprasad, Leader of the Opposition in the Council, said it is terrible that the Home Minister is protecting someone accused of “anti-national action.”
He continued by claiming that the RSS has no regard for the national flag and is comprised of “false patriots,” creating yet another uproar. Allam Veerabhadrappa, a Congress member, took issue with the hijab remark during a discussion over the flag. Congress has requested that Mr. Eshwarappa be removed from the Cabinet and charged with sedition for his “anti-national” utterances.