Decks have been cleared for the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation commissioner to hoist the Tricolour at Idgah maidan in Hubli on Tuesday. The high court circuit bench dismissed a public interest litigation application filed on behalf of Anjuman-E-Islam seeking a ban on the flag hoisting by HDMC commissioner.
The bench dismissing the PIL on Monday said Anjuman-E-Islam had no locus standi to seek a ban on hoisting the flag at the maidan and the government was within its powers to order flag hoisting.
Anjuman, which had been hoisting the flag at the maidan for 15 years, had sought to do so this year too. But the state government had asked HDMC commissioner to unfurl the Tricolour after the apex court decree the HDMC is the owner of the maidan and Anjuman could be allowed to offer prayers at the maidan twice a year.
Meanwhile, Anjuman-Islam president Mohemmed Yusuf Savanur who had sought to hoist the flag at Idgah maidan said the Anjuman would ask the Muslims to keep off the flag hoisting ceremony at Idgah. However, he added that Republic Day will be celebrated at 24 educational institutions run by Anjuman Islam.
Savanur’s statement has come under fire from several leaders of Muslim community. Former president of Anjuman and former minister Jabbarkhan Honnalli criticised Savanur for asking Muslims to stay away from flag hoisting at Idgah maidan and said Savanur or anybody for that matter had no right to give such a call to the people.
Honnalli said, everyone was free to participate in the Republic Day celebrations anywhere and appealed to Muslims to participate in the ceremony.
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Honnalli said Anjuman was basically an organisation to promote educational activities and had no right to go beyond its declared objectives.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Jagadeesh Shettar will hoist the national flag at the R N Shetty stadium in Dharwad at 9 AM and address the gathering at the programme organised by the district administration.
The police have tightened security in twin cities in the wake of red alert by intelligence agencies. Additional forces have been deployed at key junctions like bus stand, railway station, airport, high court circuit bench premises and venues of Republic Day celebrations.