Chennai: Tamil Nadu Public Works and Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna has called for a separate state flag, saying it should be “equal to the National Flag” and displayed at every home. His remarks drew a sharp response from BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam, who warned that the demand could foster a “separatist mindset”.
Arjuna said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay should be the first to hoist the proposed flag. He suggested that it be raised on July 18, observed as Tamil Nadu Day to mark the Assembly resolution to rename Madras State in 1967, and November 1, which marks the reorganisation of state boundaries along linguistic lines in 1956.
“We should create our own flag. Several states have their own flag,” Arjuna said, adding that Tamil Nadu needed a flag that reflected its identity.
Responding to the demand, Selvam said Tamil identity did not require a separate flag for recognition. In a post on X, he said Tamil language and civilisation did not need a separate symbol to assert their place under the Indian Tricolour.
He accused Arjuna of portraying Tamil and Indian identities as competing loyalties and said such rhetoric risked creating unnecessary divisions.
Selvam also urged the minister to focus on concrete plans for Tamil-medium students, youth employment, Tamil research and opportunities for entrepreneurs, with clear targets and deadlines.
The Union Home Ministry told Parliament in 2018 that the Constitution makes no provision for a separate state flag. Flag-display guidelines also prohibit another flag from being placed above the National Flag or flown alongside it from the same masthead.
The demand revives a proposal made by then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in 1970. His government had sought the Centre’s approval for a state flag featuring a grey background, the Indian Tricolour in the upper-left corner and the state’s temple-tower emblem.
Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had said she would consult other chief ministers. However, the proposal faced opposition from several leaders, including then Mysore Chief Minister Veerendra Patil, and was never implemented.
Arjuna’s remarks came as Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar renewed his government’s push for official recognition of the Kannada flag. He said the matter would be discussed in the Cabinet and taken up during the forthcoming Belagavi legislature session.