“When you were in power, whom did you please with Urdu ads?” Siddaramaiah questions BSY, Bommai
Row erupts after BJP accuses Congress over Urdu advertisement
Bengaluru: A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Congress government of neglecting Kannada and indulging in appeasement politics by allegedly issuing an official invitation for the launch of the Kusuma Sanjeevini programme and free ambulance services in Urdu, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP, questioning why advertisements were issued in Urdu during its tenure and whom they were meant to please.
Launching a scathing attack on the saffron party, the Chief Minister said, “We are not in such a poor position that we need to take lessons from BJP leaders on concern for land, water, and language. When it comes to protecting the interests of Kannada and Kannadigas, I have put politics aside and stood on the front line of the struggle. History bears witness to this. I entered political life as the president of the Kannada Kavalu Samiti. For me, Kannada is not just a language, it is life. Jai Karnataka, Jai Kannada.”
In a post on X on Thursday, Siddaramaiah said he had “listened to the brave words spoken by opposition leaders against a government advertisement published in Urdu in an Urdu newspaper.” Calling it the height of hypocrisy, he said the BJP had itself issued Urdu advertisements while in power and was now turning against the Congress government.
Addressing former chief ministers B. S. Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai, Siddaramaiah asked, “When you were in power, whom did you give advertisements in Urdu to please? Answer this honestly.”
He also shared photographs of government advertisements published in Urdu newspapers during the tenure of Yediyurappa and Bommai.
Explaining why government advertisements were published in Urdu, the Chief Minister said the objective was to communicate information about government programmes and schemes to people.
“It has been the practice since the past to publish advertisements in the language of the respective newspapers so that they reach more people. This helps readers understand the content clearly and ensures that the purpose of the advertisement is fulfilled,” he said.
Siddaramaiah further accused BJP leaders of hypocrisy, stating that they had issued Urdu advertisements not once or twice but dozens of times when they were in power. “At that time, they did not feel any discomfort. Now, the moment they see an Urdu advertisement issued by our government, their sudden love for Kannada has surfaced. This hypocrisy is embarrassing even to a gosling,” he said.
On Wednesday, the Karnataka government launched the Kusuma Sanjeevini programme, which provides prophylactic treatment for haemophilia patients, along with free ambulance services. Advertisements related to the programme were published in several newspapers, including Urdu dailies published from Karnataka.
The advertisements in Urdu newspapers were printed in the Urdu language, which subsequently became a bone of contention, triggering a political row between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.
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Youngster alleges assault at Forest Office in Kadaba; Admitted to Puttur Hospital
Kadaba: A 27-year-old youth has alleged that he was assaulted inside the range forest officer’s office when he had gone there to give a statement in connection with a wild boar hunting case. He has been admitted to the government hospital in Puttur.
The injured has been identified as Jeevan (27), son of Monappa Gowda of Konde Mane in Aithoor village of Kadaba taluk. He and Jain Varkey (50) of Kermai were recently booked in a case related to alleged wild boar hunting in Aithoor forest.
According to sources, both had gone to the Subrahmanya range forest officer’s office on Wednesday to record their statements. It is alleged that Jain Varkey was sent outside and Jeevan was assaulted inside the office.
He was later taken to the Kadaba Community Health Centre for medical examination. On learning about the alleged assault, members of the public gathered at the hospital premises and expressed anger against the forest officials.
Locals have demanded action against Subrahmanya Range Forest Officer Vimal Babu and staff members Prakash and Adarsh, who have been accused in the incident. Jeevan has been shifted to the Puttur government hospital for further treatment, sources said.
