Expelled BJP leader Yatnal seeks action against Karnataka minister over flag row

Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, a legislator and expelled BJP leader, has demanded that Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan's membership of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly be cancelled, alleging that Khan insulted the national flag. Yatnal made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Vijayapura on Saturday.

Yatnal claimed that Khan refused to accept the in-charge ministership of Vijayanagar district and declined to hoist the flag on Independence Day, which he said amounted to disrespecting the national flag. “Mr Khan is a religious fundamentalist and a communal-minded leader. I have said this in the past too. Strict action should be taken against him,” Yatnal said.

He also urged the Union government to bring a constitutional amendment to bar leaders who disrespect the national flag from contesting elections for life. “I urge the Union government to bring an amendment to the Constitution to mandate that leaders who disrespect the national flag be barred from contesting elections for life,” he added.

The demand comes amid a political controversy in Karnataka, where Yatnal, who represents Vijayapura constituency, has been critical of the ruling Congress government. He was expelled from the BJP for anti-party activities, though he continues to serve as an independent MLA.

Zameer Ahmed Khan, a Congress leader, is a minister in the state government. His portfolio includes Haj and Wakf. There has been no immediate response from Khan or the Congress party to Yatnal's allegations.

Political analysts say such statements are part of the ongoing political friction between the BJP and Congress in the state. However, the demand to cancel a legislator's membership is a serious parliamentary matter, and such actions are typically taken only under specific constitutional provisions and after due process.

The issue is likely to be debated in the upcoming session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, with opposition parties possibly raising the matter. Yatnal has a history of making controversial statements, and this is not the first time he has targeted Khan.

Earlier, Yatnal had referred to Khan as a “religious fundamentalist” and a “communal-minded leader,” but those remarks did not lead to any formal action. The current demand adds a new dimension to the political discourse, particularly involving national symbols.

Flag hoisting on Independence Day is a customary duty for public representatives, and declining such a responsibility could be seen as an act of disrespect, though legal experts note that there is no specific law mandating acceptance of such duties. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, does not cover refusal to hoist the flag, but it does penalise acts that insult the flag.

As the controversy unfolds, the Congress government is likely to face questions in the assembly. The BJP, which is the main opposition, may use this incident to target the ruling party. However, the party has not yet issued an official statement on Yatnal's demand.

Meanwhile, civil society groups and constitutional experts have urged caution, emphasising that allegations should be investigated fairly and that the national flag should not be politicised. They have also called for a measured response from all political parties.