The Karnataka CM said the government has already taken action against “anti-Kannada forces” and is examining their demand for a legal ban.
BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has appealed to pro-Kannada outfits not to go ahead with the statewide shutdown on Friday (December 31), demanding a complete ban on the activities of the Maharashtra Integration Committee (MES). The Karnataka CM said the government has already taken action against “anti-Kannada forces” and is examining their demand for a legal ban.
“I appeal to the organisations… as per their wish, we have already taken many decisions. We have taken strict action as per law against anti-Kannada forces. On demand to ban MES, we will do it legally. We are investigating. That’s why I appeal to them through the media not to extend the bandh. Bandh is not the answer to everything,” Bommai said. Also Read – Will Night Curfew in Karnataka be lifted before New Year? CM Bommai to review COVID restrictions today amid protests
Talking to reporters here, he said, if the organizations want to pressurize through any peaceful means other than the bandh, then the government will welcome it.
“Therefore, we sincerely appeal to the organizations to drop the bandh call,” he said.
Several Kannada organizations have called for a one-day statewide bandh on December 31, demanding a complete ban on the activities of the Maharashtra Integration Committee in the state over their repeated involvement in “anti-Karnataka and anti-Kannada activities”.
The demand follows the recent incidents of burning of the Kannada flag in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur and the statue of historical icon Sangoli Rayanna in Belagavi, allegedly by MES activists.