Bengaluru, May 30 (NationPress) Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour and Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, expressed grave concerns regarding the deteriorating law and order situation in Karnataka, stating, "none of us is safe anymore in the state."

During a press conference at the Goldfinch Hotel in Bengaluru, the MoS questioned, "Where is law and order in the state?"

She emphasized, "Rapes are occurring in one area, murders in another, and the public remains unaware. There’s no guarantee of safety when stepping outside. The government may offer various assurances, but not concerning life itself," she added.

Karandlaje criticized State Home Minister G. Parameshwara, highlighting his involvement in scandals and alleged ties to the mafia, stating, "With individuals like him in power, discussions about law and order are futile."

She further recalled the 2013 decision by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to drop charges against the PFI and release 800 criminals, who later caused harm in the community. "Recently, there was an attempt to dismiss 46 cases, including those tied to the Hubballi police attack. If that had succeeded, around 1,500 individuals with criminal backgrounds would have been freed. We owe thanks to the High Court for intervening," she stated.

Additionally, she criticized Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao for suggesting that Muslims are unsafe in Mangaluru, questioning, "Is he a minister only for one community’s safety? Don’t our lives matter? What is your agenda for Karnataka?"

She accused the current administration of fostering a "goonda raj", comparing Karnataka's situation to that of Bihar in the past. "People in Delhi are now questioning what is happening in Karnataka, and we lack answers. Under CM Siddaramaiah, Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar, and Home Minister Parameshwara, Karnataka is heading down a troubling path," she asserted.

Karandlaje also condemned actor and politician Kamal Haasan for derogatory comments regarding the Kannada language during a film promotion, labeling them as unacceptable.

In response to a question about linguistic heritage, she affirmed, "Whether it’s Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, or any other Indian language, we are all Indians. We must coexist peacefully."

She stressed the importance of unity amidst attempts to instigate conflict between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over issues such as water and language. "Kamal Haasan is outdated; he holds no value today," the MoS remarked.

Addressing the topic of language history, she explained that linguistic specialists have confirmed that South Indian languages like Tamil, Kannada, and Tulu developed concurrently. "There’s no hierarchy among them; they are akin to twin siblings," she concluded.