Bengaluru (PTI): A boy's alleged remark that the Education Minister "doesn't know Kannada", irked Madhu Bangarappa, who holds the portfolio, as he directed officials to take action against the student.

The incident took place during the launch of a programme to provide free online coaching to 25,000 students from Karnataka taking CET, JEE, and NEET exams.

During the virtual interaction on Wednesday, the student reportedly said that "the education minister doesn't know Kannada".

The School Education and Literacy Minister initially appeared cool on hearing the boy's remark, but later made no secret of his annoyance. He said: “who is that? Am I speaking in Urdu? TV people will keep showing this now...."

"Whoever said I don't know Kannada, record it, and take action against them. This is very stupid. He should be ashamed,” Bangarappa said.

The Minister then instructed principal secretary (school education) Ritesh Kumar and PU (Pre-University) department director Sindhu Roopesh, who were seated next to him, to take action on the matter. "Who is the teacher, BEO (Block Education Officer)? This has to be taken up very seriously. Someone said the ‘Vidya Mantri’ (education minister) doesn't know Kannada."

At this point, one officer expressed doubt whether the student had indeed made such a comment, to which the Minister responded: "ya, ya...he said that....you have to take action, I cannot sit quietly. See who it was...."

The officials assured that action will be taken.

Targeting Bangarappa on the issue, the BJP called him "Avidya Mantri"

"You (Minister) said this is a temple of knowledge, question with courage. And now you call someone who questions a stupid..." BJP posted on 'X'.

In another post, the party said: "Madhu Bangarappa himself had earlier said that he doesn't know Kannada properly, now as soon as a student reminded it, ordering action against that student, along with teachers and the BEO there, is really stupid. Congress' such dictatorial attitude is dangerous for democracy,"

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New Delhi, Nov 22: BJP leader Vinod Tawde has demanded an apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for making "false and baseless" allegations against him in the cash-for-votes incident in Maharashtra, saying if they don't he would sue them for defamation.

Tawde was accused by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, a regional party, of distributing Rs 5 crore to woo voters, with its members barging into a hotel room on November 19 in a Mumbai suburb, where the BJP leader was present.

The former Maharashtra minister and BJP national general secretary claimed innocence, saying the alleged amount was not recovered in the probe by the Election Commission and police.

"The Congress only believes in spreading lies, and this incident is a proof of the party's low level politics to dent me and my party's image," Tawde said.

The two Congress leaders and the party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate seized on the row to accuse the BJP of using money power to influence the November 20 assembly polls in the state.

The legal notice sent to the three claimed that they were aware that they were pushing a "totally false story fabricated" by them.

"You all have deliberately, mischievously with the sole intention of damaging the reputation of our client intentionally fabricated the story distribution of money. You all have published false, baseless allegations against our client on various media for tarnishing his image in the eyes of right thinking people in the society," the notice read.

The Congress leaders were in a "great hurry" to damage Tawde's reputation, they did not bother to check the fact and or despite knowing the entire fact they made the false, baseless allegations, it said.

"The entire imputation made by you all are totally false, baseless, malicious and mala fide and as our client is in no way involved in any such illegal activity and as a responsible office bearer of the national political party he is aware of his duties," it added.

The notice demanded an "unconditional apology" to Tawde within 24 hours from the time the receipt of the notice, which was sent on November 21, and published in newspapers and X.

If they do not offer apology, then Tawde will initiate criminal proceedings under Section 356, which covers defamation, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and also civil proceedings for the damages of Rs 100 crore against the three Congress leaders, the notice said.