'I'm speaking...Urdu?': Karnataka minister furious over comment on Kannada proficiency
What's the story
Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa lashed out at a student after the latter reportedly remarked that he "doesn't know Kannada" during a program.
The program was launched to provide free online coaching for CET, JEE, and NEET aspirants.
Initially, Bangarappa took the comment in stride and asked, "Am I speaking in Urdu? Switch on the TV and see."
But his calm demeanor soon changed as he ordered officials to take action against the person who made the comment.
Viral video
Minister's reaction to language proficiency criticism
A video of the incident has gone viral, where Bangarappa is seen instructing officials to "record it and take action against him."
"Whoever said I don't know Kannada, record it and take action against him. This is very stupid. Who are the teachers? This has to be taken up seriously," he said, as per TOI.
He stressed teachers should take this matter seriously.
Opposition response
BJP criticizes minister's reaction
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed Bangarappa's reaction, accusing him of stifling free speech.
The party quoted a Kannada proverb on their official X handle to drive home their point: "Telling someone the truth is akin to kicking them in the chest."
They called Bangarappa's response dictatorial and dangerous for democracy.
BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal also joined the criticism, stressing that everyone in a democracy has freedom of speech, including students.
Ongoing debate
Debate on criticism tolerance and free speech
Yatnal further stressed that the "state education minister should learn to speak, write, read and communicate in Kannada clearly" and that "constructive criticism from both students and journalists should be accepted."
However, some reports indicate it is not clear whether a student or an official made the remark on Bangarappa's Kannada proficiency.
Twitter Post
Watch the video here
ಗುಬ್ಬಿ ಮೇಲೆ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾಸ್ತ್ರ
— Basanagouda R Patil (Yatnal) (@BasanagoudaBJP) November 20, 2024
ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಸಚಿವರಿಗೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬುದು ರಾಜ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ತಿಳಿದಂತ ವಿಚಾರ. ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿ ಒಬ್ಬ ಸಚಿವರಿಗೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಬರೋದಿಲ್ಲ ಅಂತ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಅವನ ಮೇಲೆ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳುವಂತೆ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮಗಳ ಎದುರೇ ಸಚಿವರು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದು ಇವರು ಎಷ್ಟು ಅಪ್ರಾಮಾಣಿಕರು ಎಂಬುದು ತೋರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.
ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಸಚಿವರು… pic.twitter.com/uXTag1EwEY