Yediyurappa softens his stand on Bandh call by pro-Kannada activists

Bengaluru, Nov 21 : Karnataka Chief Minister, B. S. Yediyurappa on Saturday softened his stand on the December 5 bandh call given by pro-Kannada activists.
He clarified that the state government would “act tough” only in the event of the bandh being imposed “forcefully” anywhere in the state.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of – Matsya Sampada (marine wealth) – a programme that was organised by the Karnataka fisheries department here, Yediyurappa said that the state government will act tough if the protesters try to disrupt any activity forcefully.
“The government has never opposed organising of protests in peaceful and democratic manner. What I have been saying is that if any protest would turn violent, the state government bound act harshly on such protests” he said in response to a question.
Just two days ago, Yediyurappa had cautioned pro-Kannada activists that the government is bound to act on state-wide bandh as it was “illegal” to call for a bandh.
“Maratha are also Hindu followers. There is a difference between development of Marathi and Maratha. Maratha is a community and they are Hindus. There is nothing wrong in forming this body,” he had argued.