Cases against Kannada activists will be withdrawn: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has assured that his government will withdraw the cases filed against those who have fought for the Kannada land and language.
He was speaking on Saturday after inaugurating a grand procession of Bhuvaneshwari and Annamma deities at the city's Mysuru Bank Circle, organised under the leadership of Vatal Nagaraj, president of the Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha, as part of the Kannada Rajyotsava program.
"Vatal is a fighter who does not compromise on the issue of Kannada. Even when Devaraj Urs offered him a ministership, Vatal did not agree to leave the Kannada party and the Kannada struggle," the Chief Minister said in praise.
"We all must cultivate pride and love for the Kannada land, water, language, and culture. We must foster a Kannada atmosphere in our land. For this, no matter what language anyone speaks to you, you must reply in Kannada," Siddaramaiah called upon the people.
"Everyone who has built a life on Kannada soil respects the Kannada environment. Let's take an oath that we will speak in Kannada on Kannada land. May everyone feel the pride that this is our land, our soil, our water, our language," the Chief Minister said.
Responding to the demand by Vatal Nagaraj and Sa.Ra. Govindu to confer a posthumous doctorate on Devaraj Urs from the University of Mysore, the Chief Minister assured that he would discuss the matter with the syndicate members.
"Mysore University had offered me a doctorate in the past. But I did not accept it. I said no. It is my personal feeling that one should earn a doctorate by studying and expanding one's knowledge," the Chief Minister stated.
In favor of two-language policy: "I am personally in favor of a two-language policy. However, for a two-language policy to be implemented as law, it needs to be discussed in the cabinet meeting," Siddaramaiah said on this occasion.
"The members of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi (M.E.S) are Kannadigas. If any of them create mischief, we will quell it. The government is ready to do everything necessary for the development of Kannada schools in the border areas," he said.
Belagavi is a part of Karnataka: "There is no compromise on the Belagavi issue. The Mahajan report is final. Belagavi is Kannada land, a part of Karnataka. No one can deny this," the Chief Minister clarified.
Vatal Nagaraj, President of Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha, Sa.Ra. Govindu, President of Dr. Rajkumar Fans' Association, and others were present at the event.
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BJP to fight Assam polls on twin planks of development, secure state
Guwahati (PTI): In a bid to win the Assam Assembly elections for the third time in a row, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday advised the state BJP brass to fight on twin planks: development and a secure state.
Shah, who wound up a two-day visit to Assam, held a nearly two-hour-long meeting with senior leaders of the BJP state unit at the party headquarters here, with a focus on discussing strategy for the state elections, expected in March-April.
Briefing reporters after the closed-door meeting, BJP Assam president Dilip Saikia said, "Development and a secure Assam will be our twin electoral planks."
He also said that Shah, known for his expertise in electoral politics, has offered valuable suggestions, and based on it, an action plan to retain power in the state will be formulated soon.
“Discussions were held in detail on our organisational and political calendars. Shah ji offered some very valuable suggestions, and we will implement those at the earliest…We will share more details on the action plan soon,” Saikia said.
He further said that the Union minister exhorted the state party leadership to ensure that not only do they secure a ‘massive landslide victory’ but also bag more seats than in the previous election.
The BJP currently leads a coalition government in Assam with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), while the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) has also extended support.
In the 126-member Assembly, the BJP now has 64 legislators, while its allies AGP, UPPL and BPF have nine, seven and three memnbers, respectively. In the opposition camp, the Congress’ strength is 26, while AIUDF has 15 members and CPI(M) one. There is an Independent legislator also, belonging to Raijor Dal.
Saikia said that the party will continue to contest the state polls in coalition with its NDA allies, which was also favoured by Shah.
Dismissing reports of chinks in the ruling coalition, the Lok Sabha MP said, “As far as the NDA is concerned, we are united in Assam. There could be discussions about some issues on individual party forums.”
The saffron party has maintained that its alliance with the regional parties will continue, and formalities like seat-sharing arrangements are being worked out.
Shah, who was on his second visit to the state within a month, attended two other events in Dibrugarh and Dheamji earlier in the day. He left for West Bengal after the meeting at the Guwahati state party headquarters.
