Panchayat Development Officer Suspended Amid Karnataka’s Hanuman Flag Controversy
GG News Bureau
Mandya, 30th Jan. In the midst of growing tension in Mandya regarding the removal of a Hanuman flag from a 108-foot tall flagpost, the Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) of Keragodu village has been suspended.
The order, issued by Mandya Zila Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Tanveer Asif on Monday, stated that permission was only granted to hoist the Indian tricolour at Keragodu village.
However, the PDO not only allowed the people to hoist the Hanuman flag, but also failed to take action to remove it, according to the order.
On January 28, the Panchayat Sub-divisional Officer, along with Tehsildar and police officers, finally removed the flag, which caused a law and order problem for which the PDO was held responsible.
In response to the removal of the Hanuman flag and its subsequent restoration, the opposition BJP and its ally JD(S) staged a large protest in Mandya, leading to increased security measures on Monday.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the BJP and JD(S) of trying to incite the people over this issue, with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
On Sunday, the police used mild force to disperse the crowd at Keragodu village and replaced the Hanuman flag with the national flag in the presence of administration officials.
On Monday, protesters marched from Keragodu to the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mandya, covering a distance of about 14 km. They carried saffron flags and chanted “Jai Sri Ram,” while also expressing their dissatisfaction with the Congress government.
BJP leaders C T Ravi and Preetham Gowda, as well as JD(S) leaders Suresh Gowda and K Annadani, joined the demonstrators.
When the march reached Mandya city, the police used mild force to disperse the crowd as some activists allegedly attempted to remove a flex board featuring the image of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other Congress leaders.
Later, a large group of protesters gathered near the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where the police were deployed in large numbers and barricades were set up.
Ravi and the JD(S) leaders, along with former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, addressed the crowd.
