Nothing wrong in holding a Palestinian flag, says Karnataka Minister

Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan stated that after the central government announced its support, people began holding Palestinian flags.

In Short

• Karnataka Minister defended holding the Palestine flag
• Said raising slogans for another country is wrong, but holding a flag is not
• Palestinian flags waved during Milad-ul-Nabi procession in Karnataka

Zameer Ahmed Khan, Karnataka Minister for Housing, Waqf and Minority Welfare, on Thursday said there is nothing wrong in holding a Palestine flag, citing India's support for the establishment of a Palestinian state. His remarks came days after Palestinian flags were waved during the Milad-ul-Nabi procession on Monday in Chitradurga, Davanagere, and Kolar districts of Karnataka.

Khan questioned why the BJP was making a fuss about it. "The central government has already expressed its support for Palestine. They have declared that they are supporting Palestine. So why is the BJP making it a big issue?" Khan asked.

Khan also added that a person who raises slogans in favour of another country should be considered a traitor and imprisoned for life, but there is nothing wrong with just holding a flag.

In October last year, India said it believes in its long-standing support for the establishment of a "sovereign, independent and viable" State of Palestine.

Khan also claimed that after India announced its support for Palestine, people began holding Palestinian flags. If the government had not supported Palestine, they would not have been holding these flags.

Six minors were also apprehended in Chikkamagaluru after a video surfaced on social media showing them allegedly riding two-wheelers while holding the Palestinian flag, news agency PTI reported.