Congress leaders extend support to khadi sangha protesting decision on polyester flags

Hubballi: Flag makers and Congress leaders on Wednesday protested against the amendment to the National Flag Code that will now allow the use of polyester flags, instead of only khadi.

Former minister Umashri and Pradesh Congress working president Satish Jarkiholi participated in the protest with hundreds of national flag makers from Dharwad, Bagalkote and other districts.

They held a dharna protest on the premises of the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Sangh in Bengeri and appealed to the Union government to hear out their plea and withdraw the amendment.

95-year-old Desai Gundurao of Kamalapur, near Hampi, who has worn khadi for over 80 years, was the main attraction of the protest. He said h supported the weavers’ protest. “It is painful that the Union government, without regarding the significance of the national flag and the struggle associated with it, amended the code. The government should withdraw the amendment without much delay,” Gundurao said.

If a polyester national flag is allowed to unfurl, khadi will lose its identity. Many poor families will be forced into trouble, he added. “I will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convey the feelings of khadi lovers and bring to his knowledge what impact the amendment will have on weavers. I am not a good writer, so I will take the assistance of a few friends and write the letter,” Gundurao added.

Former minister Umashri said that she that changing the code was akin to “rashtra droh”. “The national flag has its history. After many struggles and sacrifices, the national flag was allowed to us. Thousands of families depend on khadi. Allowing polyester national flags will kill khadi,” she said. “The government should withdraw the amendment.”

Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, Jarkiholi said that with the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, the BJP was trying to highjack the Tricolour. “The BJP has no moral right to use the national flag as none of its leaders participated in the freedom struggle. To counter it, over 1 lakh people will march on Bengaluru’s streets holding Tricolours,” he said.