Bengaluru, Nov 2 Karnataka Rakshana Vedike convener T A Narayana Gowda on Monday said the organisation has launched an ‘Agraha Abhiyana’, a campaign to ascertain the extent of employment opportunities being provided to Kannadigas in private establishments across the state.
He said the campaign covers IT and BT companies and seeks to find out whether Kannadigas are being discriminated against during recruitment and clarified that it was not a protest.
The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike continued with its campaign despite Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s appeal.
Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Gowda said that leaders of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, divided into several teams, visited private establishments in different parts of Bengaluru and submitted a memorandum seeking information.
“The organisations have responded positively, with assurances that they would provide the required information and ensure employment opportunities for Kannadigas,” he said.
Asserting that this is a campaign and not a protest, Gowda said that it is neither an activity intended to create confusion nor an exercise in moral policing.
“Our leaders are interacting respectfully with the heads and representatives of all private establishments. Our demand is that companies operating in Karnataka should provide the lion’s share of employment opportunities to Kannadigas. We are only reminding these organisations of their moral and social responsibility,” he said.
He said that the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike is not prejudiced against any private establishment, including IT and BT companies.
“We are confident that they too, in principle, agree with our stand that Kannadigas should get employment opportunities,” Gowda said.
However, he alleged that some people, while speaking as though they represent or are ambassadors of these organisations, are issuing statements against the rights of Kannadigas and creating confusion.
He said that ‘Agraha Abhiyana’ has been launched across all parts of the state and will continue throughout November.
“Once the private establishments provide data and statistics related to employment opportunities, a comprehensive report will be submitted to the state government,” Gowda said.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Shivakumar had assured that the government was committed to protecting the Kannada language and the people of Karnataka.
“Kannada organisations should not go and attack IT companies. It is not right to take the law into their own hands. Moral policing will not be allowed. The government and the police department are there to address such issues. If there are any complaints or problems, bring them to the notice of the government. The police will take action as per the law,” he said.
Shivakumar had said instructions had already been issued to withdraw cases registered against Kannada activists.
(PTI News)
