Student says Karnataka education minister can't speak Kannada, reacts

Bengaluru:

Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa was incensed when a student said during a video conference that the minister did not know Kannada. Speaking in Kannada, he described the comment as “stupid” and asked authorities to take action against the student.

This happened during the launch of a free online coaching course for around 25,000 students preparing for competitive exams for admission to engineering and medical courses like Karnataka Common Entrance Test, JEE and NEET.

In a video that is now circulating on social media, the minister is seen interacting with students through video conference. A voice is heard, “The Education Minister does not know Kannada.” The minister immediately replied, “What? Who is this? Am I speaking Urdu?”

He then said, “Please record this and take action against him. This is very stupid. Tell the teacher and BEO (Block Education Officer), this has to be taken very seriously. I cannot sit quietly.”

The minister's order to take action against the student has been sharply criticized by the opposition BJP. The official X handle of Karnataka BJP posted a cartoon of a student asking a question to the minister. The caption said that when the minister asks students to ask bold questions, “You are the one who calls the questioner an idiot”.

Union minister and MP from Karnataka Pralhad Joshi said in a post on ?? What?” Are they trying to achieve something here?? What else can be expected from the disappointed Congress?