NEW DELHI – In a new and unique development the first Indian state afteroccupied Jammu and Kashmir has unveiled its own flag in India.

The Karnataka government on Thursday unveiled the State flag (*nada dhwaja*)for Karnataka. If approved by the Centre, Karnataka will be the secondState to have a flag after Jammu and Kashmir.

The yellow-white-red flag has the State emblem at the centre. The proposalwill be now sent to the Union Home Ministry for approval, since a State hasno powers to announce its own flag.

Ahead of Assembly elections, a separate flag has been part of the rulingCongress’ campaign focusing on regional pride.

The decision followed a meeting of leaders of Kannada organisations andlittérateurs convened to discuss the recommendations of a nine-memberexpert committee constituted to study and submit a report on thepossibility of the State having a flag.

The State Cabinet had earlier approved the proposal of a separate flag forKarnataka and empowered Mr. Siddaramaiah to take the final call afterdiscussions.

When asked about the Constitutional provisions for a State to have its ownflag, Mr. Siddaramaiah said there was no bar in the Constitution on Stateshaving their own flag. “The State flag will fly below the national flag asprescribed,” he said. “The BJP State unit should now bring pressure on theUnion government to speed up the approval process,” he added.