"Misplaced Priorities": Former Infosys CFO Pai Urges Karnataka Government To Not Focus On Communal And Caste Issues

Former Infosys Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mohandas Pai, has urged the Karnataka government led by Siddaramaiah not to jeopardise the state's future by prioritising communal and caste-based issues as reported by Businessline.

Pai emphasised the need for the government to reflect on what he termed as "misplaced priorities."

In response to a social media post by retired flight lieutenant Anoop Verma, which highlighted issues in Karnataka such as the hijab in schools, free bus rides, and Kannada language signboards, Pai expressed concern about the state's focus on these matters.

Verma had contrasted these topics with Gujarat's focus on becoming a $1 trillion economy state, a semiconductor manufacturing hub, and generating 20 per cent of the country's jobs.

Siddaramaiah's administration, months after assuming power, had announced considerations to lift the ban on hijab in schools and set a target for 60 per cent of signboards and nameplates to be in Kannada by 28 February.

These decisions sparked violent protests in Bengaluru, with pro-Kannada activists causing damage to English signboards and engaging in acts of vandalism.

Mohandas Pai condemned the violence, emphasising the importance of respecting the Kannada language without resorting to such actions. He acknowledged the significance of Kannada but stressed that violence is not the solution.

In contrast, Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state, kickstarted the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2024, a two-day business summit aimed at attracting investments.

Prominent companies, including Reliance, Adani, and Tata, announced substantial investments during the summit.