Mangaluru: “We support the fight for Kannada language and also protestors’ intentions. However, hating other languages will not help our language grow, ” said Mangaluru MLA U. T. Khader from Congress.
He was speaking to mediapersons on Saturday December 25. We need to teach our children as many languages as possible. Everyone should respect each other’s languages. We do not know as much as the BJP knows about the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) as they both were allies once upon a time, Khader took a jibe and added that the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D. K. Shivakumar and Opposition Leader Siddaramaiah have both made their stands clear with regard to MES.
On raising marriagable age for girls to 21 years, Khader said, “this reflects dual policy of Central Government. The law does not object to relationship with a girl over 18 years of age and also living together with her. No one has the right to stop such acts, says law, he said adding that however legally marrying someone who is over 18 years will now be illegal and sarcastically added, “what kind of law is this.”
On tabling of Anti-Conversion Bill in the Assembly, he said keeping in mind party’s benefit the Act is proposed to be brought in. There is ill-will behind this Act. Even now no one supports forced conversions. Including BJP members everyone knows that this bill will be stayed in the court. After cow-slaughter ban, the cattle thefts have only increased. Home Minister Amit Shah too have issued statement to this effect, he recalled and informed that though a proposal to table Anti-Conversion Bill was before Siddaramaiah Government, he rejected the same due to its ill effects on society. Moreover, this Bill proposed by BJP is different from the one proposed before Siddaramaiah. Who will be responsible if reputed educational institutions, and hospitals are alleged of conversions. Genuine social workers too will be troubled, Khader added.
