After tensions erupted in Keragodu village in Karnataka's Mandya on Sunday, 28 January – over the district administration taking down a Hanuman dhwaja (flag) that was hoisted on a recently installed 108-foot pole – the Karnataka government suspended a panchayat official for 'dereliction of duty', The Indian Express reported.
The government held Jeevan BM, the panchayat development officer (PDO) of the Keragodu Grama Panchayat, responsible for the flare-up over the hosting of the saffron flag. A departmental inquiry has been initiated against him, as per IE.
The development comes after members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (Secular), and Bajrang Dal staged protests in different parts of Karnataka on Monday, 29 January.
The police detained several protesters staging a demonstration against the ruling Congress government in Bengaluru's Mysore Bank Circle. The BJP and JD(S) also took out a 'padayatra' from Keragodu village to the Mandya District Collector's office in protest against the removal of the Hanuman flag.
What Happened?
Last week, a group of residents – under the aegis of Gauri Shankar Seva Trust – installed a pole in Keragodu village stating they wished to hoist the National Flag ahead of India's 75th Republic Day on 26 January. They received permission for the same from the Keragodu Gram Panchayat.
However, instead of the National Flag, a saffron-coloured flag with a photo of Lord Hanuman was unfurled on the pole to mark the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
On receiving a complaint about the same from a few other residents, the district administration ordered the removal of the Hanuman flag on Sunday, which triggered protests led by members of the BJP, JD(S), and Bajrang Dal.
They raised slogans against the district administration officials and Mandya MLA from the Congress, Ganiga Ravikumar.
Amid tensions, the officials reportedly removed the Hanuman flag and replaced it with the Tricolour hours later. The police resorted to a lathicharge to disperse the protesters – many of whom were detained.
What Did the Govt Say?
In a post on X on Sunday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Gram Panchayat had sanctioned the flagpole only to hoist the Tricolour or the Karnataka flag – and not any religious flag.
"The Gram Panchayat permitted the Gauri Shankar Seva Trust of Mandya Taluk, Keragodu village, to construct the flagpole on the premises of Keragodu theatre. That flagpole was to be used only to hoist the Karnataka flag and the Tricolor. The trust had given a letter of assurance that they will abide by the conditions of the village panchayat," Siddaramaiah said, sharing the relevant documents.
"Residents in Mandya took permission to hoist the Tricolour and the State flag, but instead, they put up the Hanuman flag," Siddaramaiah further said.
The CM added in another post: "It is no accident that the Hanuman flag is hoisted where the national flag should have been hoisted, deliberately violating the rules and protesting against the government. This incident @BJP4Karnataka and the pre-ordained act of the Sangh Parivar."
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Monday that the BJP was trying to "distrub the peace in Mandya" for political gains.
"BJP candidates lost deposits in many of the constituencies in Mandya; that is why they are trying to find a political base by joining hands with the JD(S)," Shivakumar told the media.
Why Was the Panchayat Official Suspended?
As per The Indian Express, an order issued on Monday stated that the PDO Jeevan BM was suspended for dereliction of duty, as he permitted the Sri Gowri Shankar Seva Trust to erect the pole on government land, without the prior consent of the government or the Zilla or Taluk Panchayat.
The order further stated that even though the Trust was allowed to hoist only the Tricolour or the Karnataka flag, the PDO did not take any action after it hoisted the saffron-coloured Hanuman flag.
"The government's permission is mandatory for allotment of Gram Panchayat property to private parties. However, PDO has been suspended as the direct cause of the conflict in Keragodu village by giving it to private individuals in violation of the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993," the suspension order said, as per The South First.
What Did the BJP Say?
BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka took to X on Sunday to say: "After opposing #AyodhyaRamMandir, anti-Hindu @INCKarnataka Govt in Karnataka is now standing against Hanuman Ji. Karnataka Police brought down the flag of Hanuman Ji hoisted by the Gram Panchayat Board in Mandya district."
After the removal of the Hanuman flag, the BJP organised protests in all districts of Karnataka. The Bajrang Dal has called for a bandh in Mandya on 9 February. In light of the protests, the police have imposed Section 144 in the district.
"They (the government) have hurt the feelings of the Hindus by removing the 108-foot Hanuman flag from Mandya. If Hindus' feelings won't be respected in Hindus' India, where else will they be respected? We respect the land of the law, but we condemn this anti-Hindu government," BJP MLC Tejashwini Gowda, who took part in the protest in Bengaluru on Monday, told the media.
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