Kannada Outfits, Congress Leaders Condemn Lakshmi Hebbalkar’s Alleged Pro Maha Statement

Belagavi: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee women’s unit president Lakshmi Hebbalkar reportedly apologized through television channels for her statement which allegedly supported Maharashtra and attracted public criticism on Thursday.

Speaking to TV channels in Karnataka, Lakshmi Hebbalkar stated that she wasn’t intended to insult Kannadigas and support Maharashtra during her recent public speech. However, senior congress party leaders in Karnataka condemned her statement and warned not to repeat such statements in the future which defame her and Kannadigas.

Meanwhile, pro Kannada outfits called for statewide protests against congress leader and urged her party senior leaders to immediately dismiss her from the party for her irresponsible statement. Kannada activists protested against the statement in some parts of Karnataka on Thursday to condemn her statement.

Lakshmi Hebbalkar’s statement attracted yet another issue after she supported the merger of Belagavi with Maharashtra during a speech at Ganeshothsava Fest organised by a Marathi cultural organisation at her constituency in Belagavi on August 25.

Speaking in Marathi at the event, Hebbalkar reportedly said that, “Belagavi boarder issue is still pending before the Supreme Court. If Apex Court releases any order favoring Maharashtra to merge the district with it, then I support the court hoisting a flag representing the state Maharashtra.” The video of her Marathi speech has gone viral on the internet and various pro Kannada outfits in Belagavi and around Karnataka have condemned the statement.