Karnataka Cong MPs walkout after RSS's reference in KDA memorandum

Congress MPs from Karnataka on Wednesday strongly objected to an RSS resolution mentioned in a memorandum of the Kannada Development Authority which was submitted to the central government. The memorandum comprises key proposals seeking the Centre's focus on promoting the Kannada language in education and jobs.

New Delhi: Congress MPs from Karnataka who took part in Kannada Development Association (KDA) meeting chaired by Union Minister Sadananda Gowda at his residence in New Delhi on Wednesday had a staged walkout as the KDA annual memorandum mentioned a resolution of Rashtriya Samayamsevak Sangh (RSS) about languages.

According to Congress RS MP Rajeev Gowda, the RSS resolution which has been placed on page number 23 of KDA memorandum is raising so many doubts.

"KDA is a government-run cultural organisation and it is above politics. KDA is for protecting the language, land, water and all other regional rights. However, the KDA memorandum has cited a resolution passed by RSS in its Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha meet held at Nagpur on March 10, 2018. The resolution is unwanted and against the interest of Karnataka. They should not place some non-official inputs," Rajeev Gowda told the media.

Kannada Development Authority memorandum

Congress MP L Hanumanthaiah said while RSS is backing Sanskrit and Hindi why should the KDA highlight its resolution in its memorandum.

"KDA is a government organisation. What is necessary to place a resolution of RSS in its memorandum. We suspect that someone behind this," Hanumanthaiah said.

Congress Rajya Sabha MPs BK Hariprasad and GC Chandrasekar have also staged a walkout from the KDA meeting.

Reacting to the walkout of congress MPs, KDA President TS Nagabharana said it was kept merely for reference.

"We have not kept that resolution against the interest of Karnataka. The RSS, in its resolution, has favoured the mother tongue-based education and it asks to give importance to the mother tongue. As the RSS favoured BJP's government is in the center, we placed the RSS resolution to draw the attention of center to make Kannada as the primary medium in education," Nagabharana responded to Congress's allegations.

The KDA delegation will submit its Memorandum 2020 acknowledging the needs and demands of Karnataka to the Union Government. It is an annual exercise according to Nagabharana.