Tamil Nadu Minister calls for separate State flag, draws BJP criticism

CHENNAI :

Tamil Nadu Public Works and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna has called for a separate flag for the State, saying it should reflect Tamil identity and be accorded a status equal to that of the national flag. The demand has drawn criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused the Minister of encouraging a separatist mindset.

Speaking at the Tamil Nadu Day celebrations in Chennai on Sunday, Mr. Arjuna said the State should have its own flag, with Tamil identity at its centre. He proposed that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay hoist it for the first time on November 1 and July 18, and called for it to be displayed in every household.

“We are at a point where we need to create a flag for Tamil Nadu that is equal to the National Flag,” he said, adding that the proposal should move beyond public statements and be translated into concrete action.

November 1 is observed as Tamil Nadu Day, marking the reorganisation of State boundaries along linguistic lines in 1956. July 18 commemorates the 1967 resolution adopted by the Madras Legislative Assembly to rename the State as Tamil Nadu.

BJP questions demand

Reacting to the proposal, BJP leader Vinoj P. Selvam said Tamil identity did not need a separate flag for recognition. In a post on X, he said Tamil language, culture and identity were not diminished under the Indian Tricolour.

He accused the Minister of creating an artificial divide between Tamil and Indian identities and questioned the need to present the two as competing loyalties. The BJP also urged the State government to focus on issues such as education for Tamil-medium students, youth employment and opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Earlier proposal in 1970

The demand for a separate Tamil Nadu flag dates back to 1970, when the government led by then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi proposed a design and sought the Centre’s approval.

The proposed flag had a grey background, with the Indian Tricolour in the upper-left corner and the State emblem, featuring a temple tower, on the main portion. Mr. Karunanidhi presented the design to the media in New Delhi. However, the proposal did not move forward amid opposition and the absence of approval from the Centre.

In 2018, the Union Home Ministry informed Parliament that the Constitution did not provide for a separate flag for States. The Flag Code of India also lays down restrictions on the display of other flags alongside the National Flag, including prohibiting another flag from being placed above it or displayed on the same masthead.