Bengaluru: Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Anantkumar Hegde has courted trouble over his comments on the Kannada language.
Recently, during an event, the minister said that only those from three districts of Uttara Kannada, the undivided Dakshina Kannada and Shimoga spoke the language properly. Other’s he said, were not speaking Kannada.
“Even Bengaluru and Mysore people do not know how to speak proper Kannada,” said the MP from Uttara Kannada.
The comments have led to Hedge receiving backlash, especially his own party members. “The comments made by the minister were tasteless. It has hurt all Kannadigas, including me. The language has many dialects and all are sweet. Action should be taken against him,” said senior BJP leader and former law minister S Sureshkumar.
The party’s state leaders have asked the high command to take action against Hegde or at least discipline him ahead of the assembly elections.
Congress and JDS have also condemned the statement and termed it ‘stupid’ as pro-Kannada organisations have launched a state-wide protest demanding an apology.
Hegde, in December, had kicked up a controversy by mocking "secularists" and saying the BJP would “change the Constitution in days to come.”
The minister mocked secularists and said they are unaware of their parentage. Urging people to identify with their religion or caste, Hegde said, "I will bow to you, you are aware of your blood. But if you claim to be secular, there arises a doubt about who you are."
He added he respects the Constitution but "it will be changed in the days to come".
Later, after receiving a lot of flak from opposition parties, Hegde tendered an apology in Lok Sabha.
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