“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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Hubballi: Gym trainer assaulted; police say clash due to personal reasons
Hubballi: A gym trainer was allegedly assaulted by a group of people following accusations of sexual assault and ‘love jihad’, even as both families involved in the case traded serious allegations.
According to police, a group of individuals went to the residence of Sameer Mulla, a resident of Vijayanagar, and questioned him over his friendship with a woman he had met at a gym. The situation escalated into a clash, during which he was allegedly dragged away and assaulted. He sustained minor injuries and was admitted to KIMS hospital.
N. Shashikumar said that after this incident, members from Sameer’s side went to the woman’s house, leading to another clash in which one person was injured. “It was wrong for groups to go near houses. We will take necessary legal action,” he said, adding that the incident appears to have arisen from personal reasons. Police have taken some individuals into custody and are investigating the matter.
Sameer Mulla was reportedly thrashed by a group of Sangh Parivar activists and later handed over to police at the Old Hubballi Police Station after relatives of the woman and members of Hindu organisations gathered at his residence in Rajnagar.
The woman’s family alleged assault and threats from Sameer’s relatives at their Vikas Nagar residence.
Meanwhile, Sameer’s family denied the allegations and accused the woman’s relatives and others of assaulting and kidnapping him. His sister said the two had been in a relationship for three years and that the allegations were baseless.
Police said statements from both sides have been recorded, and a detailed investigation is underway. Sameer remains hospitalised, and appropriate legal action will be taken based on findings.
In a video statement shared on social media, the 20-year-old woman alleged that Sameer had given her an intoxicant, recorded videos without her consent, and sexually assaulted her. She lodged a complaint alleging rape and blackmail, which police are investigating.
In another video, Sameer denied the allegations, claiming the video was recorded with consent and that the accusations were made under pressure.
Former Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) chairman Nagesh Kalburgi termed the incident a serious matter and urged police to take strict action.
Police said the case involves multiple complaints from both sides, and further investigation is underway.
