The Great Indian Political Debate - 3

[acharya]

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‘Dhwaj’ is symbol of peace, says Palemar</b>

Special Correspondent

MANGALORE: Minister for Ports and Inland Water Development Krishna Palemar on Saturday stressed the significance of the saffron “Bhagava dhwaj”, which the sangh parivar uses as a symbol of Hinduism.

Launching a campaign to create awareness on the National Flag, organised by the Mangalore chapter of the Junior Chamber International, Mr. Palemar said that the bhagava dhwaj represented a great tradition. “It is wrong to brand the people respecting bhagava dhwaj and the “kaavi” (saffron) dress as supporters of a particular party. The dhwaj is a symbol of peace,” he said. Inaugurating the students council of the SDM Law College for 2008-09, Mr. Palemar said that it was wrong to put up plastic buntings representing the dhwaj or the national flag during functions. “This is because they will be strewn all around the place after the function and people may walk across them. It amounts to insulting the national symbol. It is the responsibility of everyone to uphold their dignity,” he said.

Dwelling on the Hindu philosophy of respecting elders, he said: “This tradition is still alive in the country and people should continue it.”

He said that the joint family system with large number people living together was being followed by the Muslim community. It would protect youth from treading on wrong paths, he said. MLC Ganesh Karnik presided over the function.