Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has strongly condemned the recent acts of vandalism in both Karnataka and Maharashtra, stating that painting buses black in protest is unacceptable. He has called for strict action against those who assaulted the bus conductor in Belagavi and suggested that individuals engaging in hooliganism should be booked as per law.
Speaking to the media today, Reddy addressed the recent incident in Belagavi, where a NWKRTC bus conductor was attacked over a language dispute. He explained that the altercation began when a free ticket was issued in the name of a young man, leading to an argument over language, which escalated into violence against the conductor.
The minister emphasized that such acts of lawlessness should not be tolerated and assured that he would discuss the matter with the Home Minister. He also stressed the importance of linguistic harmony in Belagavi, stating that while Marathi is the mother tongue of many in the region, learning Kannada is essential as it is the administrative language of Karnataka.
Reddy urged political leaders to take a non-partisan stand on issues concerning land, water, and language, condemning such incidents without bias. He reiterated that defacing buses in both states serves no purpose and only fuels unnecessary tensions.