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Shivakumar announces plan to fly Kannada flag alongside tricolour. (Img: X)
Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday announced that the state government would introduce a legal framework to grant official status to the yellow and red Kannada flag and ensure it is flown alongside the national tricolour on government buildings.
Addressing the 71st Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations, Shivakumar said the proposal would be discussed during the winter session of the state Legislature in Belagavi, scheduled from November 30 to December 11.
"Just now, you have witnessed the national flag being hoisted. Beside that national flag, I have just hoisted the Kannada flag. The government has already held discussions on granting official state flag status to this Kannada flag," Shivakumar said.
He recalled that an earlier Cabinet decision had been followed by a request to the Union government, but the proposal did not receive recognition.
"I will bring this up for discussion, take a decision in the Cabinet and introduce a legal framework. My government is committed to taking an official decision to ensure that this Kannada flag is hoisted alongside the national flag on every building where the national flag is hoisted," he added.
Shivakumar said Karnataka wanted an official flag that reflected the identity and self-respect of Kannadigas, much like the state anthem.
"We are considering granting official recognition and state flag status to this flag, which conveys Karnataka's knowledge tradition, culture, religious harmony and peace," he said.
In March 2018, the then Congress government led by Siddaramaiah had proposed a state flag and sent it to the Centre for approval. The design featured yellow, white and red bands, with the state emblem, Gandaberunda, at its centre.
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The yellow and red flag, designed in the 1960s by Kannada activist Ma Ramamurthy, has since become a prominent symbol of Kannada identity and is widely displayed during Rajyotsava celebrations.
Shivakumar also stressed the need to preserve and promote Kannada, urging parents and teachers to encourage children to use their mother tongue while learning other languages and adapting to the digital age.
"Knowledge acquired through one's mother tongue is stronger and more enduring. Kannada should not remain merely an official language; it should become the language of our hearts," he said.
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He highlighted government initiatives to strengthen public education, including AI training for students from Classes 6 to 12, recruitment of 15,000 teachers and the development of Karnataka Public Schools.
The government has also started 25,498 bilingual schools and established science laboratories in 250 government schools, he said.
