The removal of the Hanuman flag caused political tension and protests in Keragodu village, Mandya, Karnataka. On Monday, however, police action brought the situation under control.
When authorities pulled a saffron flag with Lord Hanuman’s picture from a 108-foot flag post on Sunday, the issue took a different turn.
A lot of security has been put in place to stop any unfortunate incidents from happening in and around the hamlet because of the ongoing protests by members of the Bajrang Dal, the BJP, the JD(S), and other political parties.
The demonstrators called for the raising of the “Hanuman dhwaja” once more.
As a show of protest, the demonstrators, wearing saffron flags, started marching to the Mandya city district headquarters, where the Deputy Commissioner’s office is located. According to reports, JD(S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy is expected to join the group.
Tentative conditions have led to the imposition of restrictions in the village under Section 144.
WHAT DATE DID THE ISSUE APPEAR?
The ‘Hanuman Dhwaja’ was raised atop a 108-foot flag post by a group of men last week, causing the disturbance.
Despite the village panchayat’s approval for the flagpole’s installation, the authorities were obliged to request the flag’s removal due to objections regarding the Hanuman flag.
The peasants banded together and stuck to their positions. They even charged that some people were attempting to politicize the situation.
CHANGE OF THE FACTS
The atmosphere was further heightened on Saturday when stores were closed in protest.
The residents gathered and screamed “Go Back” as Gram Panchayat officials came to the village to remove the flag.
HOW DID IT TURN INTO A “BJP VS. CONGRESS” ISSUE?
The political element entered the picture when local Congress MLA Ravi Kumar’s banners were vandalized during the demonstrations.
Many police officers had been posted in the area after the disturbances.
Protesting at all of the state’s district offices, BJP officials and members are denouncing the Congress-led government’s “anti-Hindu policy” and charging it with “insulting” the national flag.
The Jayanagara MLA C K Ramamurthy led the saffron party in organizing a demonstration at Bengaluru’s Mysuru Bank Circle. The police arrested them and took them away. According to the police, no authorization was given to hold a protest there.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed the worry that the Tricolour was being flown in place of a “bhagwa dhwaja,” or saffron flag, in the meanwhile.
“It is incorrect. Siddaramaiah was cited as stating, “I have requested that the national flag be hoisted by the authorities.”
Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy, who is in charge of the district, addressed the situation and stated that permission was first requested in order to raise the tricolor on Republic Day.
Installation of CCTV and Lathi-Charge
To break up the throng and get things under control on Sunday, police had to use a limited amount of lathi-charge. The Tricolour was raised on the flag pole by the administration and police in place of the Hanuman flag.
According to government sources, the area surrounding the flag post has been barricaded, and CCTV cameras have been deployed to keep an eye on the situation and stop any wrongdoing with the flag.
According to officials, the vast majority of the businesses remained closed in accordance with the villagers’ and activists’ calls for a shutdown.
