“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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
KKR defeat LSG via Super Over
Lucknow (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants via Super Overs in a battle between two bottom-placed teams in the IPL, here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 156, LSG suffered a batting collapse and managed to tie the contest and take it to Super Over with No. 9 Mohammed Shami striking a last-ball six against a wayward Kartik Tyagi, who leaked 16 runs in the final over.
But Sunil Narine bowled a stunning Super Over conceding just one run and taking two wickets to give KKR an easy target.
Rinku Singh then finished the chase with a boundary off first ball from Prince Yadav.
Earlier the KKR were in deep trouble with 93/7 in 15 overs but Rinku smashed a sensational 83 not out from 51 balls including four sixes in a row in the final over to lift them to 155/7.
Cameron Green (34) was the only other batter to reach double-digit scores as KKR suffered a familiar batting meltdown with Mohsin taking his maiden fifer.
In reply, LSG continued their dismal show with the bat to succumb to their fifth loss in a row.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7; 20 overs (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23). Lucknow Super Giants 155/8; 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 42). KKR won via Super Over.
