Karnataka

The government is however moving ahead with its decision and has allotted a Rs 2.50-crore grant, sources said, adding that that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is all set to lay down the foundation stone for the colleges this month. The colleges are going to be built in the Malnad and north Karnataka regions initially, and will expand later, the sources added.

Speaking at a function organised to unveil the 108-feet tall bronze statue of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda -- the founder of Bengaluru -- by Prime Minister Narendra Modi near the airport on Friday, he said the Prime Minister has given two gifts to Karnataka.

Addressing a huge gathering after unveiling the 108 feet tall statue of Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda at the Bengaluru International airport, he said Karnataka is reaping the benefits of the beliefs and aspirations that the entire world has shown towards India.

Leader of Opposition in the legislative assembly Siddaramaiah has stayed away from this row. "I do not know why there was a lack of clarity in that party. Action must be taken against Satish if he fails to fall in line or else leaders must say they will vouch for it," CM Bommai demanded.

The directions have also been given to lodge a police complaint demanding action against Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Secretary Satish Jarkiholi for hurting the feelings of Hindus. Meanwhile, Dalit organisations and progressive thinkers have started a campaign to support Satish Jarkiholi and were carrying out a campaign on social media.

Music record label MRT Music, which owns the copyright for the music of the film 'KGF - Chapter 2', had alleged that the audiovisual promotions of the yatra headed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had illegally used music from the pan-India blockbuster movie.

Speaking after launching the 'Swabhimani Hindu' campaign condemning the statements on 'Hindu' words by KPCC Satish Jarkiholi, he stated, the legacy laid down by Nehru is continuing even in the present day. "Congress since its inception has been insulting Hindu nationalism many times. Congress is indulging in insulting Hinduism and Indianness whenever it gets an opportunity," Minister Sunil Kumar stated.

Jarkiholi, who is Secretary of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), stirred up a hornet's nest when he said that the word "Hindu" is of Persian origin and has a "dirty" meaning.

Though Jarkiholi clarified that he did not want to hurt the feelings of followers of any religion, he maintained that he said nothing wrong. "We should rise above caste and religion. It is not appropriate to glorify anything related to Hinduism," he stated.

Addressing a gathering at Nippani town, Jarkiholi said, "Hindu is not an Indian word at all. It is Persian. How the word Hindu went on to become ours needs to be debated." "From where the word Hindu came? Is it ours? The word is Persian belonging to Iran, Iraq and Kazakhstan. How did it become Indian? Look up in Wikipedia, the word has arrived from Persia, it is not ours," he said.