“Are there no Urdu-speaking people in Karnataka ?” : Arrogant reply by Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao

Government invitation card in Karnataka released shockingly in Urdu instead of Kannada !

Bengaluru (Karnataka) – Ignoring Kannada, the official State language of Karnataka, the Congress Government has released the invitation card of an official programme in Urdu, sparking intense outrage. When questioned about printing the invitation in Urdu, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao responded arrogantly with a counter-question, “Are there no Urdu-speaking people in Karnataka ?”

The Department of Health and Family Welfare organised a programme at the Nehru Planetarium for treatment of haemophilia patients and the inauguration of the ‘108’ ambulance service. The invitation card for this important programme was printed only in Urdu. Kannada organisations and Opposition parties have criticised the Government over this issue. Has the Government forgotten its official language ? Is this politics being played to appease a particular community ? Such questions are now being raised at the public level.

What does the Karnataka Official Language Act state ?

According to the Karnataka Official Language Act, government invitation cards are to be issued in Kannada and English as a matter of protocol. However, the Health and Family Welfare Department appears to have openly violated this rule.