'I'm speaking...Urdu?': Karnataka minister furious over comment on Kannada proficiency
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.
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.
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.
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.
