Writer clarifies his words over people of state

Bhyrappa had termed Kannadigas a nuisance who posed hurdles on the path to progress

“I meant it about opposition parties and politicians, who pose hurdles in the path of development,” he has summarised in his two-and-half pages clarification he has sent to this paper.

The comments made by Bhyrappa during the release of Diary 2011 brought out by the Aasare Foundation of District In-Charge Minister S.A. Ramdas on December 4 have invoked extreme criticism and objections from various quarters of the society. Explaining the situation which forced TATA company to choose Gujarat to set up nano project despite Karnataka offering to provide land for the same, Bhyrappa said Karnataka lags behind in all aspects that require an industry to thrive.

“When Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi invited TATAs over and explained to his people about the benefits they would get by giving away their lands for the Tata project, they agreed. Farmers benefited immensely from this and the CM Modi ensured that relief reached its real beneficiaries and not the hands of officers, or MLAs or ministers,” he said in a letter.

“Whereas, our people merely listen to the politicians and chant slogans in support of them,” he added.

Referring to Gujarat’s progress, Bhyrappa said: “Narendra Modi is the best Chief Minister this country has seen. And, the progress achieved by Gujarat is tremendous, under his leadership. I had earlier worked there for six years. I do travel to Gujarat even now, and have heard from common people too, about the feat that state has achieved, which has been recognised by the Rajiv Gandhi Research Institute, established by the Congress party.”

As an answer to a question on land scams in Yeddyurappa government, I replied: "Those who cannot earn money through business or by setting up industries, take up politics and amass wealth through land deals. The people of Karnataka don’t have a bright background in industries and business. The sources of properties and assets of all the Ministers and Legislators, through all the governments, must be probed, including Yeddyurappa and his men.”

"A common man has to inform the Income Tax Department if he sells his old car, buys a new one or possesses a site or gifts gold to his wife. This is the law of land. The financial assets of politicians before joining politics and after must also be probed,” he observed.
“There is no uniformity in reporting and different newspapers do it differently. Few newspapers which portrayed me wrongly, could have called me and sought my clarification, which would have been the right thing to do,” he added.

However, subsequently, the letter states about 30 persons claiming to be pro-Kannada activists, gathered near his residence and shouted slogans against him, calling him in singular and demanding his apology.

“Being a Kannada writer, I love my language and respect my fellow men too. Even if I criticise them, it is out of love and concern, more with the urge to see them take the right path.

But, they are often misled by politicians. Hence, Tharle (nuisance) applies to netas and not to common people,” said Bhyrappa.