Bengaluru: After backlash over the setting up of the Maratha development board from the Congress, as well as the pro-Kannada activists, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa took to social media to explain his intent was for the development of the Marathas in the state.
It can be recalled that the Congress and Kannada activists accused the BSY-led Karnataka Government of being politically motivated in setting up the Maratha development board and termed the move “anti-Kannada”.
Kannada activists have even threatened to call a statewide bandh on December 5, if the government does not reverse its decision.
Renowned pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj, on Tuesday, criticised the Yediyurappa government for bringing shame on Karnataka and Kannadigas by creating a Maratha development board.
The Congress, on the other hand, played it safe considering the upcoming Belagavi Lok Sabha and Basavakalyana Assembly bypolls.
While Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Siddaramaiah claimed that the move was taken only to “woo the Maratha vote bank” ahead of the upcoming elections, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D K Shivakumar was much more cautious, saying that the party is yet to decide its “official stand on the Maratha development board creation” and chose to focus on the “issues of farmers”.
Taking to Twitter on Tuesday night following the backlash, Yediyurappa wrote that the intention behind creating the Maratha Development Board is for the development of the Marathas in the state and “has nothing to do with the Marathi language”.
‘???? ????????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???????????, ??????????, ??????????? ??? ????????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????? ? ?????????????? ????????? ??????????????????’ : ??????????? @BSYBJP. (2/2)
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) November 17, 2020
Stating that the “Marathas have been living in Karnataka for generations”, BSY explained that the board was being set up to help the community develop socially and economically.
