The Karnataka government’s proposal to hold an Urdu festival on the steps of Vidhana Soudha on November 9 has run into opposition from the BJP and a pro Kannada organisation, with the minister behind the plan saying Thursday that the government was willing to reconsider the venue after hearing objections.
Health, family welfare, waqf and minority affairs minister U T Khader said the proposed Urdu Habba was intended to take the annual Urdu Sahitya award programme out of a hall and into an open space, where people from different communities could engage with Urdu language, literature, culture, cuisine and art.
“Every language has its own tradition and culture, and they all stand for unity. Our intention is a society filled with trust, a developed Karnataka and a strong India. With this intention, we had planned for it. Every year, the Urdu Sahitya award is given, and it used to be presented inside a hall.
But he said the government would not proceed if the programme created problems. Khader said the proposal was meant to promote understanding rather than favour one community. I, as a minister, had planned to organise the event in a better way,” he said. BJP state president B Y Vijayendra accused the Congress government of pursuing “divide and rule” politics and alleged that the proposal was aimed at “appeasing minorities”. Deputy chief minister G Parameshwara said he had not been informed about the proposal.
Speaking in Kolar, Vijayendra linked the proposal to the Congress government’s opposition to the Centre’s three language formula, saying it had earlier argued that Hindi was being imposed on children.
