Student hoists saffron flag in Shimoga College, sparks row
Amid the raging controversy over the Karnataka hijab ban, a video has now surfaced that shows a boy at a college in Shimoga climbing up a pole and hoisting a saffron flag.
A major row erupted after Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar reacted to the incident and claimed that the national flag was "replaced" by a saffron flag at the campus.
In a tweet, Shivakumar said: "The situation in some Karnataka educational institutions has gone so out of hand that in one case the National flag was replaced by a saffron flag. I think the affected institutions should be closed for a week to restore law and order. Teaching can continue online."
While The Tricolour is hoisted on that pole at the campus of Government First Grade College at Shivamoga on Republic Day and Independence Day, there was no flag hosted today, local authorities said.
A video purportedly of the incident doing the rounds on social media showed one boy climbing the pole and hoisting a saffron flag while protesting against allowing hijab on the college campus.
Responding to Shivakumar's tweet, the Karnataka BJP demanded evidence from him to prove that the national flag was replaced by the saffron flag.
"If this is true, our government will take strict action against those involved in this incident. If he fails to provide evidence, then he will face legal action," Karnataka BJP tweeted.
With the Karnataka High Court hearing the case over the hijab controversy, and the faceoff between students and the government over wearing hijab, the protests have intensified further.
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/kar...th-saffron-flag-in-shimoga-1910307-2022-02-08