Shivakumar rules out MNC notice board plan

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday dismissed his Cabinet colleague Shivaraj Tangadagi’s suggestion that Multi-National Corporations (MNCs) would be asked to display the number of Kannadigas they employ prominently on notice boards.

When asked about Manipal Global Education (MGE) chairman Mohandas Pai expressing displeasure over Tangadagi’s remarks, he clarified that there was no plan in place to force companies to display the number of Kannadigas they employ, adding that it was merely a suggestion by some Kannada groups.

“I am telling you on record. There is no such order. Some Kannada activists had met the minister (Tangadagi) and requested for this. We are not forcing anyone. There is no Act or guidelines on that. It is a city (Bengaluru), which the entire world is looking at. We don’t want to spoil its status,” Shivakumar said.

“We are there. Let them put up Kannada boards. As far as Kannada boards are concerned, we are encouraging them to put them up. On the employee issue, there is no such direction. It was a request. Nothing to worry about,” he added.

The Deputy CM was referring to Minister for Kannada and Culture Shivaraj Tangadagi making the promise in the Council on Tuesday, the day on which the Kannada Comprehensive Language Development Act was passed.

If it is signed into law, the Act will mandate that signboards of business establishments set aside 60 per cent of their space for their company name in Kannada.

“There are discussions going on that industries should display it (the number of Kannadigas employed). There is a committee, which I head. It’ll take a call,” Tangadagi said.