Bengaluru: Chief minister DK Shivakumar Thursday moved to put an early end to the controversy over the proposed Urdu festival on the steps of Vidhana Soudha, saying the govt had not granted permission for the programme.“There is no scope for any non-govt programme to be held on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha,” Shivakumar said.His remarks came amid opposition from BJP and pro-Kannada groups to haj and waqf minister UT Khader’s proposal to hold the event on Nov 9, observed as Urdu Day.Khader also sought to cool things, saying he had only mooted the idea and that the govt would consult those opposed to it. “Every language has its own tradition and culture, but they all stand for unity,” he said. “Our intention is a society filled with trust, a developed Karnataka and a strong India. Every year, Urdu Sahitya award is conferred, and it used to be presented inside a hall. I, as a minister, had planned to organise the event in a better way out in the open.”He said it had nothing to do with the Urdu speaking community as “they were never exposed to such an event, nor did they understand the language and what was behind it”.“We will speak to everyone,” Khader said. “We want good for the state and the country through our programmes. I will not proceed with anything that may cause loss or create problems. We will not be adamant on this issue.”On opposition by BJP and pro-Kannada organisations, he said, “Whatever we do, they will call it appeasement.”Khader said the proposal was aimed at promoting greater understanding of Urdu language and culture. “The intention was to spread awareness about the language,” he said. On whether he would drop the proposal if there is wider opposition, Khader said it was not a matter of prestige.
