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BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister has strongly criticised the Central government, accusing it of neglecting the Kannada language and “imposing Hindi” on the people of Karnataka. Addressing a large gathering during Karnataka Rajyotsava (State Formation Day) celebrations in Bengaluru on Saturday, the chief minister called upon citizens to “oppose those who are anti-Kannada.” Centre accused of unfair treatment to Karnataka Siddaramaiah alleged that the Union government has been meting out step-motherly treatment to Karnataka, both linguistically and financially. “The federal government is treating Karnataka unfairly. The state contributes ₹4.5 lakh crore in revenue to the Centre, but in return, it receives only a paltry share,” he said. He argued that such financial injustice hampers Karnataka’s progress, despite its major contribution to the national economy through sectors like information technology, manufacturing, and agriculture. ‘Continuous attempts to impose Hindi’ The chief minister asserted that the Kannada language has been marginalised due to the Centre’s alleged preference for Hindi and Sanskrit. “There are continuous attempts to impose Hindi. Grants are being given for the development of Hindi and Sanskrit, while other regional languages are being neglected,” Siddaramaiah said. Calling Kannada a classical language of rich heritage, he lamented that it is being denied adequate funds for its growth. “Injustice is being done to Kannada by denying support that it rightly deserves. We must oppose all those who are anti-Kannada,” he emphasised, drawing loud applause from the audience. Need to strengthen Kannada in education Siddaramaiah expressed concern over the declining use of Kannada as a medium of instruction in schools and colleges. He said the neglect of Kannada in education had caused several challenges for young learners and impacted their creative and intellectual development. “Children of developed nations think, learn, and dream in their mother tongue, but here, the situation is different. English and Hindi are weakening the talent of our children,” he stated. The chief minister reiterated his government’s commitment to promote Kannada in education, urging the Centre to support similar initiatives nationwide. Call for language policy reforms The chief minister further advocated for legislative measures to make regional languages the medium of learning. “Hence, there is a need to bring laws to introduce the mother tongue as the primary medium of instruction. I emphasise that the Centre should pay heed in this direction,” he said. Siddaramaiah also referred to Karnataka’s efforts to blend technology and culture, highlighting that the state is working on making Kannada future-ready in the AI era. He added that protecting and modernising regional languages is vital to preserving India’s diversity. Celebration of Kannada pride The Rajyotsava Day event witnessed a vibrant display of Kannada pride, with cultural performances, traditional music, and flag-hoisting ceremonies across the state. Government buildings and public spaces were illuminated in red and yellow, the colours of the Karnataka flag, symbolising unity and linguistic identity. As the celebrations continued, the chief minister urged the people to take pride in their language and heritage. “Kannada is not just a language; it is our identity. Let us strengthen it, protect it, and ensure that it continues to thrive for generations,” he concluded.
