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Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday announced that all cases filed against Kannada activists would be withdrawn, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting the interests of the language. Speaking after flagging off the grand procession of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari and Annamma near Mysore Bank Circle, the Chief Minister urged Kannadigas to build an environment where Kannada thrives. “No matter which language someone speaks to you in, reply in Kannada,” he appealed. On the border issue, the Chief Minister reiterated that Belagavi is an integral part of Karnataka. “There will be no compromise on Belagavi; it is Kannada land and part of Karnataka, no one can deny that. The Mahajan report is final,” he asserted. “Members of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) are also Kannadigas. But if anyone indulges in hooliganism, we will deal with it firmly,” Siddaramaiah warned. Two-language policy The Chief Minister said the government would continue to support the development of Kannada-medium schools in border areas and take firm action against any disruptive elements. Clarifying his stance on language policy, Siddaramaiah said he personally supports a two-language policy in education but added that any official policy would have to be discussed and approved by the Cabinet. The State Education Policy Commission has recommended implementing the two-language policy in Karnataka, apart from It has also recommended mandating Kannada as the medium of instruction till Class 5.
