Congress demands action against Udupi DC T K Swaroopa for waving saffron flag, she says no political motive

A video of the incident shared on social media shows Suvarna handing the saffron flag with ‘Om’ in the centre. The DC is seen raising the flag and waving it before devotees who gathered for the procession.

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“This move by DC is against government service rules, and secular ideals enshrined in the Constitution. The move is condemnable,” Shetty said, urging the CM to take the issue seriously and initiate action against the official. The petition, dated January 19, was also addressed to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Karnataka Chief Secretary.

The Karnataka BJP, which shared a copy of the petition on X Tuesday evening, criticised the Udupi Congress for demanding the suspension of the district commissioner for flagging off the event, which has a history spanning multiple centuries.

“For the sake of its appeasement politics, the Congress party continuously obstructs the celebrations and practices of the Hindu majority. In the eyes of Congress, raising the Bhagwa (saffron) flag is considered a crime, but raising the Pakistani flag is not,” it said.

Swaroopa said that she had flagged off the event in her capacity as administrator of the Udupi CMC. “I have participated in the felicitation of new yatis and at the Darbar of the seer, and the participation was not politically motivated,” she said.