CM Siddaramaiah honours Booker Winner Banu Mushtaq with ₹10 lakh award
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday lauded renowned Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq for bringing international recognition to the Kannada language by winning the Booker Prize. Speaking at a government-organised felicitation ceremony held at the Banquet Hall in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said that literature must unify society, not divide it.
"Banu Mushtaq has enhanced the stature of Kannada globally by securing the Booker Prize. This is a matter of pride for the entire Kannada-speaking community," the CM said.
He announced a cash award of ₹10 lakh each for Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Basti for their contributions through storytelling and translation. The government will also support the English translation and publication of Banu Mushtaq’s stories, he added.
Praising her multi-faceted contributions, Siddaramaiah highlighted Banu Mushtaq's journey as a journalist, writer, lawyer, and activist. Her journalism with Lankesh Patrike and legal advocacy for the underprivileged reflect her strong social commitment, which has earned her numerous accolades including the Rajyotsava Award.
Describing her as a progressive voice against orthodoxy and a representative of Muslim women, the CM said Banu's literary work conveys a humane message. "Through her writing, she continues the legacy of literary figures like Pampa, Basavanna, and Akka Mahadevi, who called for unity and compassion," he said.
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K'taka remains central to Aequs' strategy, says min Patil amid row over firm's investment in TN
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Commerce and Industries Minister M B Patil on Monday asserted that Aequs continues to expand in the state and that its proposed investment in neighbouring Tamil Nadu was a business decision aimed at diversification, not a shift away from Karnataka.
Reacting to criticism on social media over reports that the Karnataka-based firm had signed a major investment deal in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district for setting up a specialised aerospace and defense manufacturing cluster, he said the state government was fully aware of the company's plans and remained confident about its long-term commitment to Karnataka.
"While we welcome every major investment in India, would like to clarify a few points," Patil said in a post on 'X'.
Aequs was significantly expanding its footprint within Karnataka, including a Rs 3,000 crore investment in Kolar for electronics manufacturing.
"Its recently approved Rs 1,500 crore ECMS project will also be grounded in the state. Karnataka remains central to its long-term strategy," he said.
Patil added that the government had prior knowledge of the TN proposal.
The government was already informed and aware that the TN investment is a business decision aimed at geographic diversification and de-risking operations, not a shift away from Karnataka.
"Healthy competition between states strengthens India's manufacturing ecosystem," he said.
Emphasising the state's focus on high-technology sectors, Patil said, "We remain committed to deepening Karnataka's leadership in aerospace and advanced manufacturing, and our engagement with industry partners is strong and ongoing."
The Aequs Group has pledged Rs 4,000 crore to bolster Tamil Nadu's aerospace manufacturing capabilities at the SIPCOT-Shoolagiri Industrial Park in Krishnagiri district.
The group proposes to establish a specialised aerospace and defense manufacturing cluster for the production of aircraft engines, gearbox components, and precision engineering parts. This initiative is expected to provide employment to 7,000 individuals.
