BENGALURU: In a move aimed at promoting Kannada pride, Karnataka deputy CM D K Shivakumar (DKS) announced on Friday that all institutional buildings, including businesses, in Bengaluru must hoist the Kannada flag on Rajyotsava on November 1, the state’s formation day.
“We are marking 50 years since Mysore was renamed Karnataka. As the minister in charge of Bengaluru, I have formulated a new programme to ensure the Kannada flag is hoisted at all schools, colleges, factories, and businesses, including those in IT and biotech sectors,” he said.
A formal govt notification will soon be issued to enforce this directive, a source said.
DKS urged educational institutions to organise cultural programmes like those held on Independence Day and Republic Day. “Respect should be shown towards the Kannada flag, too,” he said.
Dy CM clarified that while he was not asking factories and businesses to organise cultural events, the Kannada flag must be hoisted. However, he cautioned pro-Kannada organisations against forcibly imposing the rule on businesses or institutions, saying legal action could be taken against those attempting to enforce the rule through coercion.
The yellow-and-red flag, designed by Veera Senani Ma Ramamurthy in the 1960s, has been a key feature in pro-Kannada movements ever since.
DKS also stressed the importance of Kannada in Bengaluru, where nearly 50% population comes from other states. “Everyone should feel that one cannot live in Karnataka without knowing Kannada,” he said.