Don’t spoil Karntaka’s future by misplaced caste priorities: Mohandas Pai tells govt

Don’t spoil Karntaka’s future by misplaced caste priorities: Mohandas Pai tells govt

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Jan 11, 2024: Former Infosys Chief Financial Officer (CFO) T.V. Mohandas Pai on Wednesday asked the Karnataka government of Siddaramaiah to not spoil the state’s future by focusing on communal and caste-based issues. He said the Karnataka government should introspect on their "misplaced priorities".

Karnataka govt should introspect on their misplaced priorities @CMofKarnataka @siddaramaiah @DKShivakumar @MBPatil @RV_Deshpande @DrParameshwara @dineshgrao Pl do not spoil Karnataka’s future by misplaced communal/caste priorities https://t.co/vwybxoLSru

— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) January 10, 2024

Earlier in the day, a retired flight lieutenant, Anoop Verma, listed some of the issues that he said were the topics in Gujarat and Karnataka. He said topics in Gujarat were, how to make it a one trillion economy state, a semiconductor manufacturing hub, and creating the country’s 20 per cent of jobs from the state. But the issues in Karnataka, he said, were - "allow Hijab in schools, free bus rides, and write signboards in Kannada".

Months after coming to power, Siddaramaiah in December said his government was contemplating lifting the ban on hijab in schools. His administration has also asked the offices and business units to ensure that by February 28, 60 per cent of signboards and nameplates are in Kannada.

Just days after this, pro-Kannada activists resorted to violent protests in Bengaluru, the ’Silicon Valley of India’. They tore down English signboards, smashed glass windows of malls, shops, and showrooms, sprayed black ink on English letters, stormed into businesses, and pulled down English signage.

Mohandas Pai criticised those involved in the act and said the Kannada language is important, but there should not be any violence over it. "We must respect Kannada but no violence."

The Karnataka cabinet on January 5 gave its nod to the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development (Amendment) ordinance. With this, commercial establishments, industries, hospitals and institutions and organisations will have to have 60 per cent Kannada on their signboards and nameplates.