'A small step into the future': IAS officer Gaurav Gupta on Tesla entering Bengaluru

Technology

The officer was involved in discussions with Tesla and says that the timeframe for venturing into R&D and manufacturing will be up to the US-based company.

Prajwal Bhat

Gaurav Gupta

A week ago, residents of Bengaluru celebrated the announcement of Tesla registering its corporate office in the state, confirming its first move into India. Tesla is reported to be in talks with five state governments in the country, including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra to set up operations in the country. In the first signal of its intent, the Palo Alto-based company registered its corporate office in Bengaluru.  Gaurav Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Commerce and Industries in Karnataka said Tesla’s decision followed months of correspondence between the state government and the electric car manufacturer. “It did not happen by chance nor did it fall into our laps. We worked hard behind the scenes and were in touch with the company for over four months. We responded to them with the information they asked for. I am certain other states also corresponded with them but it was up to the company to decide what its strategic interest was,” he said.  According to Gaurav, there were a number of factors that worked in Bengaluru’s favour during the discussions.  “Bengaluru is a technology hub and a place for innovation, not only for electric vehicles but also in the field of space because of the presence of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Besides this, we have a number of startups, a talent pool and a consumer market of people who have lived abroad and returned. This is also the place with the highest number of electric vehicles among cities in India. The state is also where the first electric vehicle policy in the country was announced in 2017,” says Gaurav Gupta. Companies such as Bosch, Mahindra Electric, Ather and Ola Electric currently operate in the electric vehicle mobility space in Bengaluru.  Tesla’s decision to register a corporate office in Bengaluru comes at a time the Karnataka government has battled a series of challenges, and has been trying to maintain its industry-friendly image.  In December 2020, thousands of workers at an iPhone manufacturing plant in Kolar district vandalised the plant in anger over unpaid dues and delayed payments. The company — Wistron Corp —  based in Taiwan admitted to lapses and apologised for the incident.  In another instance, a lockout at a Toyota Kirloskar Motors plant in Ramanagar ended last week, nearly two months after the workers union alleged that the company wanted to raise the number of cars produced in a day from 300 to 360 without any increase in manpower or timings. The employees’ strike continues, with workers stating that their grievances have not been addressed.  Gupta sought to play down the impact of the two cases. “It is a simplistic view that the Toyota and Wistron cases are connected like a string of pearls that goes together to say Karnataka is a bad place for companies. In the Toyota issue, the employees were paid and it was a small matter where certain people did not want to conform to the requirements placed by the company. It should have been settled across the table but it wasn't to be,” he said. “Wistron was another issue that ramped up quickly. Overtime systems were faulty, payments were not made in time even though people were working for 12 hours and the company has acknowledged these lapses. These are intensely local issues and do not affect the city which has great potential for investment and is one of the largest technology clusters in the world. Our competition is not just with other states in India but also with cities like Singapore and Manila because ours is a city with a million technology professionals,” he explained.  Now, Tesla's expected entry has sparked a sense of optimism about the company venturing into sales and research in Bengaluru. In December, India’s transport minister Nitin Gadkari had said that Tesla would start with sales early this year and then might look at assembly and manufacturing after entering the country. However, officials in Karnataka say that this timeframe is still being discussed with Tesla. “It is a positive step but it is also a small step in the journey into the future. We are still in talks with them about what comes next and it is left to their judgement and discretion. I am trying to paint a picture of the reality of the process involved before we get to R&D and manufacturing. Any company will wait till there is critical mass before stepping into manufacturing," he added. "What we can say is the future is exciting because Bengaluru has a lot of startups in the solar, electric vehicle and satellite design field and with Tesla coming in, it can also work with the startups here and improve the ecosystem,” he said.   

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Karnataka to get its first wolf sanctuary at Bankapur

Wildlife

Besides wolves, the area will also reportedly offer conservation of striped hyena, Indian fox, golden jackal and other fauna.

TNM Staff

Image from Pixabay By Sarangib

If all goes well, Karnataka will soon get its first Indian Grey Wolf sanctuary in Koppal district of Kalyana-Karnataka region. The Karnataka Wildlife Board, which is led by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, is expected to approve the proposal to set up the sanctuary, on Tuesday. The 822.03 acres of forest area, located in the drylands of Bankapur in Koppal district, is expected to be named as ‘Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary’. According to Deccan Herald, the agenda copy circulated to the members of the board states that "a relative ecosystem for the conservation of these endangered species has been found in parts of Koppal district." Besides wolves, the area will also provide conservation of striped hyena, Indian fox, golden jackal and other fauna, the agenda copy added. Melkote region in Karnataka is said to be the first protected area for wolves in the country. The Melkote Wolf Sanctuary was reportedly set up by the maharajas of Mysuru. However, according to reports, there has been no documentation of wolves in the region for over a decade. The water shortage in the region has been cited as a potential reason for the forced migration of the packs, say reports. Subsequently, two packs of wolves from Koppal were translocated to the region. The forest patches falling within Bankapur, Mallapur and Sulekal village comprise rocky hillocks and thorny vegetation, said the forest officials. According to the proposal for the sanctuary, the Indian grey wolves inhabit the dry grassland region in the Deccan Plateau and prey on blackbucks and other herbivore animals. The officials also said that a pack of wolves recently gave birth to about six pups. The wolves occupied a cave underneath a huge boulder and nurtured the pups in the region. The Karnataka Wildlife Board is also likely to take up a proposal to set up ‘Arsikere Sloth Bear Sanctuary’ in the state by including Hirekallu Gudda and adjoining areas. The meeting, headed by BS Yediyurappa, is also likely to take up the long-pending proposal to declare Hesaraghatta — the last standing grassland ecosystem of Bengaluru — as a Conservation Reserve, said the Deccan Herald.

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53341 health workers vaccinated in Karnataka, 49% covered

Health

The state planned 1,324 vaccination sessions, out of which 1,307 were held.

TNM Staff

PTI : Image for representation

Karnataka has vaccinated 53,341 frontline health workers since the drive was launched on January 16, achieving 49 per cent coverage of the targeted beneficiaries, the health department said on Monday. The COVID-19 vaccination coverage report issued on Monday showed that in the last three days the state planned 1,324 vaccination sessions, out of which 1,307 were held. The state had set a target of 1,08,922 beneficiaries to be vaccinated out of which 53,341 were given the shots, which worked out to 49 per cent, it said. One person who received the COVID-19 vaccine on January 16 died on Monday after suffering a heart attack. The death was reported in Ballari district of Karnataka and the district level Adverse events following immunization (AEFI) committee said that the death was not related to the vaccine. The committee stated that the cause of death was a myocardial infarction.  43-year-old Nagaraj, who worked at Sandur General Hospital as an attendant, did not report any discomfort after taking the vaccine until Monday morning, when he complained of chest pain and collapsed after reporting to work at 9:30 am. He was rushed to the Jindal Sanjeevani hospital but he could not be saved. "None of the other health care workers who took the vaccine from the same vial had any adverse events," the Karnataka health department said in a statement.  The death in Ballari was one of two deaths reported in India among COVID-19 beneficiaries with the other case reported in Uttar Pradesh district. In both cases, beneficiaries were administered the Covishield vaccine.  The vaccination drive began on Saturday in 243 health centres in Karnataka. In six centres, Covaxin vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech was administered while in 237 centres, Covishield vaccine developed by Serum Institute of India was administered. With PTI inputs

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Police help reunite 23-year-old mother with baby in Karnataka's Haveri

Police

The baby was abandoned and the mother intended to take her own life but a change of heart and an intervention by the police helped avert a tragedy.

IANS

Image for representation

Police officials helped reunite a 23-year-old woman with her 9-month-old baby after she left the baby behind in a crowded dhaba in Hanagal town of Haveri district of Karnataka. Rekha Madiwalar, the mother, was fed up with her alcoholic husband and had intended to take her own life. However, after a timely intervention by the police, she was prevented from taking the extreme step and reunited with her baby. Hanagal circle police inspector Shivashankar Ganachari told IANS that it all began when Rekha Madiwalar, mother of the nine-month-old baby quietly left her child in one of the busiest roadside dhabas, Garam Masala, last week. "The people only realised after the baby started crying inconsolably either due to hunger or in search of its mother. First dhabawalas and customers ignored the cries of the baby thinking that it must be a stubborn baby. But, when cries got louder, one of the customers informed the police and we went there only to realise that the baby was abandoned," he explained. The officer added that after preliminary investigations when the police could not verify who had abandoned the baby, the women and child welfare department officials in Hanagal were alerted, who reached the spot and took the baby into their custody. While District Child Protection officer (Hangal), Mallikarjuna Mathad said that the baby was tired of crying and hungry too. "We immediately took steps to feed the baby. The baby co-operated on that occasion. Then when we started investigations along with police, we came to know that a woman who left the child boarded a bus towards Shivamogga, that clue alone helped us solve the case in two days," he said. The police immediately alerted Shivmogga and Uttara Kannada (Karwar) police. "The moment local cable channels aired this news on their channels, relatives of the child from both Karwar and Shivamogga came to Hangal, by then baby's mother had returned to Hangal, she was not aware that her baby's news had reached her parents as well as to her husband's relatives," Ganchari explained. According to the relatives from both sides, they confessed that Rekha's husband Prakash was a chronic alcoholic and even to that moment, he was not aware that his son and wife had gone missing. "Karwar police had taken him into their custody, but he was inebriated and he came to his senses only after staying for a day in police lockup," the officer said. According to him, Rekha took a bus to Shivamogga to reach her parents' house in Soraba, but she had got down midway thinking that she would take her life as she felt that someone would 'certainly take care of her son' better than her.  The police added that the woman had second thoughts after leaving her son behind and returned to the dhaba. “The dhaba staff immediately informed us and by then she reached our station, where she said that she wanted to take care of her son. As she was pleading, her relatives came, they produced required documents and she was reunited with her child on Sankranti, it was not planned but they were destined to reunite on Sankranti," he said. If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers of suicide-prevention organisations that can offer emotional suppport to individuals and families.    Tamil Nadu State health department's suicide helpline: 104 Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in Tamil Nadu) Andhra Pradesh Life Suicide Prevention: 78930 78930 Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584 Karnataka Sahai (24-hour): 080 65000111, 080 65000222 Kerala Maithri: 0484 2540530 Chaithram: 0484 2361161 Both are 24-hour helpline numbers. Telangana State government's suicide prevention (tollfree): 104 Roshni: 040 66202000, 6620200 SEVA: 09441778290, 040 27504682 (between 9 amd and 7 pm) Aasara offers support to inidviduals and families during an emotional crisis, for those dealing with mental health issues and suicidal ideation, and to those  undergoing trauma after the suicide of a loved one.    24x7 Helpline: 9820466726 Click here for working helplines across India.

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Karnataka man who got COVID-19 vaccine dies, govt says death unrelated to vaccine

COVID-19

The 43-year-old man was a Group D worker in Sandur General Hospital in Ballari.

Soumya Chatterjee

Representational image/PTI

Authorities in Karnataka have confirmed that a man who was administered the COVID-19 vaccine died but maintain that the death was not connected with the vaccination. The Ballari district administration has said that the man had existing comorbidities (diabetes and heart condition).  Confirming the same, Ballari Deputy Commissioner Pavan Kumar Malapati told TNM that the AEFI (Adverse event following immunization) Committee of the district concluded that the death is not related to the vaccination. The committee will send a detailed report to the state Health Department. The victim has been identified as Nagaraj. He was working in Sandur General Hospital. District Health Officer, Dr Janardhan, who is part of the committee, told TNM, "The 43-year-old man is a Group D worker. He was working as an attendant in Sandur General Hospital. He had taken the Covishield vaccination on January 16. He died this afternoon and postmortem is underway at Vijaynagar Institute of Medical Sciences. The person was a resident of Kamalapura in Hospet taluk. He had severe comorbidities including hypertension and diabetes. He had cardiovascular problems as well." “The man went to work after taking the vaccine. On Monday morning he complained of chest pain and the doctors at Sandur General Hospital began treating him. The cause of death is myocardial infarction,” he added. Nagaraj is the second person across the country who has died after taking the vaccine. Also read: 29-yr-old woman suffers reaction to COVID-19 vaccine in Hyderabad, hospitalised It was earlier reported how vaccination drives in Karnataka, like in the rest of the country, had started on January 16. However, in the first three days only 49% of the intended target beneficiaries were vaccinated.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the vaccination drive in Bengaluru Medical College on Saturday. Some private hospitals like St. John's Medical college have also been included in this initiative. Covishield will be distributed in 237 centres and Covaxin in 6 centres in Ballari, Shivamogga, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Chamarajanagar and Davangere. (With inputs from Theja Ram)

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'Give us the choice': Doctors in some Karnataka districts want Covishield over Covaxin

COVID-19

While Covishield is being given in 237 centres across districts, Covaxin is being administered only in six centres.

Soumya Chatterjee

Representational image/PTI

Some doctors in Karnataka who have the option of only taking Covaxin have approached their respective district health authorities asking they be given the Covishield (manufactured by Serum Institute of India) vaccine citing safety concerns. Currently, doctors and other frontline workers in six medical colleges of six districts in Karnataka only have the option of taking Covaxin. As widely reported, Covaxin (indigenously made by Bharat Biotech) has been approved for “clinical trial mode” by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and a section of experts have raised concerns on how this was allowed for mass roll out given that the mandated third phase of clinical trials was still underway.  TNM spoke to doctors in three districts of Shivamogga, Ballari and Hassan who approached their respective district health authorities over the same issue. Resident doctors in Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences have written an official letter to the District Health Officer. Persons who are administered this vaccine are currently required to sign a consent form before they are given the  shot. While Covishield is being given in  237 centres across districts, Covaxin is being administered only in six centres in Ballari, Shivamogga, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Chamarajanagara and Davanagere districts (all medical colleges). A doctor based in Shivamogga told TNM, “In Delhi, also the same issue happened in some hospitals. Now they are given an option. We also want the option, we do not want to be told only to take Covaxin or no vaccine at all.” He added, “A very low percentage of doctors are agreeing to take the Covaxin. We fear that other uninformed workers are signing up without properly understanding the risks involved even though they sign the consent form.” However, there are no incidents of adverse reaction to the vaccine in the state so far. A part of the letter reads, “We know that Covaxin which is still undergoing its phase III trials has been authorised for use. On the other hand Covishield has already come out with its Phase III results. We as healthcare professionals are considering not only efficacy but safety as well.”  Dr Nagaraj Naik, DHO Shivamogga, said he has now sought instructions from the health department regarding this. As reported earlier, like elsewhere in the country, Karnataka too (as directed by the union government) is using two vaccines that have got regulatory approval to vaccinate health and other frontline workers on priority.  Currently, 40,000 doses of Covaxins have been given to Karnataka while more than 7 lakh  Covishield doses are there. However, it is unclear if these doctors seeking to take the Covishield will be given a chance even though many of those who signed up for Covishield did not turn up to take the jab.  A doctor in Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences too confirmed apprehension among healthcare workers regarding taking Covaxin. They said they are also considering approaching their DHO seeking a chance to take Covishield instead of Covaxin until more data comes to light. Director of the National Health Mission, Dr Arundhati Chandrasekhar, IAS, looking after the state’s vaccine drive could not be reached for comment.  The vaccination drive which had started on Saturday has met only 62% of its intended targets over the first two days across districts in Karnataka. Officials on ground say that currently they have been asked to return both used and unused vials of the vaccines to the designated warehouses at the end of the day. “As a result we can’t reallocate vaccines for someone who wants a particular vaccine over the other,” a medical superintendent of a hospital said on the condition of anonymity.

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Belagavi border row: Pro-Kannada groups burn effigy of Maha CM Uddhav Thackeray

Politics

CM Uddhav Thackeray said that his government would work towards including Marathi-speaking regions in Karnataka, into Maharashtra.

TNM Staff

The decades-long border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra was reignited on Sunday after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray made a controversial statement, leading to protests in Karnataka, and denouncements from political leaders. Pro-Kannada groups on Monday launched protests in Belagavi and Bengaluru after Uddhav Thackeray declared that his government is “working towards” incorporating Marathi-speaking areas in Karnataka, into Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray’s statement also drew the ire of Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and other leaders in the state, who accused him of “planting the seeds of hatred” among people living in the border areas. What Maharashtra’s leaders said “Bringing back all the Marathi-speaking and culturally Maharashtrian areas that have been occupied by Karnataka back into Maharashtra is the only tribute to those who have attained martyrdom in the border dispute fight. We are united and committed to this cause. We bow down to the martyrs with this promise," the Maharashtra CMO tweeted.  The border dispute between the two states over the district of Belagavi is not new, reappearing every few years. On Monday, Maharashtra Minister for Urban Development and Public Works, Eknath Shinde said that Marathi-speaking regions were “unjustly snatched from Maharashtra” in 1956 when states were reorganised based on languages in India.  “In 1956, several Marathi-majority regions were snatched away unjustly from Maharashtra and ever since the fight has been going on to include them into our state. Every year on January 17, we celebrate Martyrs Day to commemorate those who fought for this cause and died. We will continue to fight for it,” Eknath Shinde said.  Protests in Karnataka Angered by the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s statement, pro-Kannada groups gathered at Channamma Circle in Belagavi City and launched a protest against Uddhav Thackeray’s remark. Members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike held up an effigy of Uddhav Thackeray on a deathbed and paraded it across the streets while shouting, “We will fight till the end.” Watch: Protests erupt in Belagavi after Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray's controversial statement The protesters who gathered at Channamma Circle laid down the effigy and placed photographs of Uddhav Thackeray on it. Several protesters began beating the effigy with slippers while shouting, “We will stand united.” They later set fire to his photographs.  Watch: Protesters hit Uddhav Thackeray's effigy with slippers Also read TNM’s earlier article explaining the Belagavi dispute and why Karnataka and Maharashtra are fighting over one district. Soon after Shinde’s statement, Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha chief Vatal Nagaraj held a protest in Bengaluru’s Mysuru Bank Circle against Uddhav Thackeray’s statement. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Chief Praveen Shetty too held a press conference and condemned the statements from the leaders from Maharashtra.  “Kannadigas will not fold their hands and sit quietly. It is not possible for any fool to occupy even an inch of our land. Kannadigas are strong in Karnataka so set your dreams aside. If you even attempt to overtake three of our districts, you will witness the bloodshed of thousands of Marathis,” Praveen Shetty said. Watch: Praveen Shetty warns of 'bloodshed' after Uddhav Thackeray's statement Yediyurappa, opposition leaders unite against Uddhav Thackeray Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Monday condemned Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray’s statement. “Maharashtra CM stating that Marathi-speaking regions in Kannada must be included in Maharashtra, is just a display of outrage. This is a stance that is contrary to the principles on which the Union of India was formed. The Mahajan Commission report stands final,” Karnataka Chief Minister BS said in a tweet.  Yediyurappa lashed out against Uddhav Thackeray and said that his “misplaced talk of regionalism and linguistic identity,” whilst referring to the issue of reorganisation of the two states. Yediyurappa called Uddhav Thackeray’s statement “detrimental to the unity of India. “I strongly condemn his statement about reorganising the two states. Marathi-speaking people and Kannadigas have peacefully coexisted in the border areas of both Karnataka and Maharashtra,” BS Yediyurappa said.  'ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರದ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಉದ್ಧವ್ ಠಾಕ್ರೆ ಅವರು ಮರಾಠಿ ಭಾಷೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳನ್ನು ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಮಾತನಾಡಿರುವುದು ಅವರ ಉದ್ಧಟತನದ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನವಾಗಿದೆ. ಇದು ಭಾರತೀಯ ಒಕ್ಕೂಟ ತತ್ವದ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾದ ನಿಲುವು. ಮಹಾಜನ್ ವರದಿಯೇ ಅಂತಿಮ ಎಂಬುದು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಬಲ್ಲ ಸತ್ಯ. (1/3) — CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) January 18, 2021 In 1966, the Mahajan Commission headed by former Chief Justice Merh Singh Mahajan was set up to look into the border dispute between the erstwhile Bombay and Mysore states. In August 1967, the Commission submitted its report and recommended that 264 villages be transferred to Maharashtra (which formed in 1960) and that Belgaum and 247 villages remain with Karnataka. Former Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too condemned Uddhav Thackeray’s statement. This, despite the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP’s ruling alliance in Maharashtra. Siddaramaiah said that protecting “Karnataka’s interests” is the primary responsibility of state leaders. “Mahajan report is final with respect to Belagavi border issue. Mr. Uddhav Thackeray, don't try to politicize the issue which is already decided. You are not just a Shiv Sena activist. Don't forget that you are also a responsible Chief Minister. We will never compromise or politicize on matters related to land-water-language of Karnataka. Protecting our state is our responsibility,” Siddaramaiah said in a series of tweets.  Mahajan report is final with respect to Belagavi border issue. Mr. Uddhav Thackeray, don't try to politicize the issue which is already decided. You are not just a Shiv Sena activist. Don't forget that you are also a responsible Chief Minister.@OfficeofUT#ಬೆಳಗಾವಿನಮ್ಮದು 2/3 — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 18, 2021 Former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy called Uddhav Thackeray’s statement “traitorous”. “Uddhav Thackeray is now trying to instil hatred among people in the border areas. This is traitorous and is condemnable,” Kumaraswamy said.  ಗಡಿ ವಿವಾದದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಾಜನ ಆಯೋಗದ ತೀರ್ಪೇ ಅಂತಿಮ. ಇತ್ಯರ್ಥ ಆಗಿರುವ ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಗಾದೆ ತೆಗೆದು, ಬೆಳಗಾವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸೌಹಾರ್ದತೆಯಿಂದ ಸಹಬಾಳ್ವೆ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿರುವವರಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಷ ಬೀಜ ಬಿತ್ತುವುದನ್ನು ದೇಶದ್ರೋಹಿ ಕೃತ್ಯ ಎಂದೆನ್ನಬೇಕಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ ವಿಚಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದರೆ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಸಿಡಿದೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಉದ್ಧವ ಠಾಕ್ರೆಗೆ ತಿಳಿಯಲಿ. 4/7 — H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) January 18, 2021 Kumaraswamy accused Uddhav Thackeray of trying to plant the “seeds of hatred” among the Marathi-speaking people who reside in Karnataka. He also said that Belgavi has been an integral part of Karnataka and that “vested interests” within the state, who are supporting the Maharashtra Ekikarna Samiti, had led to the current situation, where leaders of states have begun claiming parts of Karnataka’s land.  “If Maharashtra Ekikarna Samiti was not allowed to bring down the Karnataka flag so many years ago and if MES was not encouraged, we would not have seen this day. The Mahajan Commission report is final. Belagavi is an integral part of Karnataka and in order to reiterate this, during my time as CM in 2006, we decided to build the Suvarna Soudha and also began holding Assembly sessions there. There is no need to stir the pot of an issue that has been settled,” Kumaraswamy said.  ಬೆಳಗಾವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ಹೋರಾಟಗಾರರು ನೆಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ ಕನ್ನಡ ಧ್ವಜ ತೆರವು ಮಾಡಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ವಾದಿಸಿದ್ದ ಎಂಇಎಸ್‌ಗೆ ಸರಿಯಾದ ಪೆಟ್ಟು ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದರೆ, ಇಂದು ಉದ್ಧವ ಠಾಕ್ರೆ ಇಂಥ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು ಆಡಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಎಂಇಎಸ್‌ ಅನ್ನು ಪರೋಕ್ಷವಾಗಿ ಬೆಂಬಲಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವವರಿಂದ ಪ್ರೇರಣೆ ಪಡೆದೇ ಉದ್ಧವ ಠಾಕ್ರೆ ಇಂಥ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು ಆಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. 3/7 — H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) January 18, 2021

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