Mangaluru: Former minister and senior Congress functionary B Ramanath Rai Wednesday challenged BJP leaders from the coastal region to take up the long-pending demand to include Tulu in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution with the Centre.Reacting to BJP leaders’ demand for Tulu to be declared Karnataka’s second official language ahead of the state cabinet meeting in Mangaluru, Rai questioned why they were not pursuing its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule.“BJP leaders have started demanding second official language status for Tulu only because there is a possibility that the state government may announce it at the cabinet meeting. Why aren’t they showing interest in taking it up for the Eighth Schedule?” he asked.“You have MLAs, the MP is from your party, and BJP is in power at the Centre. Take up the issue with your party leadership and the Prime Minister,” Rai said, adding that an assurance to pursue the matter with the Centre would provide the recognition and respect sought for Tulu.Rai also urged the state govt to extend financial support to ‘chakri’ people involved in Daivaradhane, saying they should be given a salary or monthly pension similar to priests. He said he would submit a representation to the CM.He urged the govt to distribute DC Manna land on priority to poor people from SC and ST communities, saying the issue had been pending for several years and would not necessarily require a major financial commitment.Rai also demanded implementation of the Mohammed Peer committee report and land rights for the Koraga community. He said the community’s food, housing, colonies, healthcare, and overall development needed attention, and he expressed confidence that the state govt would prioritise the issue.He said Congress leaders had raised and discussed naming Mangaluru airport after Koti-Chennaya, and welcomed tourism development on the coast and the govt’s decision to hold the cabinet meeting in Dakshina Kannada.Rai questioned the BJP’s opposition to several issues, including Jammer, ahead of the meeting. He asked whether the party did not want the cabinet meeting held in the district and whether announcing protests, including black-flag demonstrations, was appropriate.“For some, elections are their first agenda. For Congress, development is our agenda,” he said.
