Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod

Kasargod, May 24: The Kannadigas on Karnataka-Kerala border here held huge protest near the district collectorate here on Tuesday May 23 against the Kerala government's order to make Malayalam compulsory in schools.

The protestors led by Kannada Horata Samiti blocked the roads, bringing the district administration's day-to-day activities to a halt.

Right from early morning, the protestors began gathering at the spot in huge numbers from various parts of the district. They blocked all the gates and sat on dharna, preventing everyone from entering the collectorate's premises. Due to this, the DC's office and over 30 other government offices were stopped to stop functioning.

When police tried to allow some government personnel through two of the gates, the protestors stopped them and a quarrel ensued between them and the police. No government worker or official was able to enter the premises.

Over 50 activists of Karnataka Navanirmana Sene led by Bheemashankar Patil also participated in the blockade.

The protest was earlier inaugurated by Kondevoor Sri Yogananda Saraswati Swamiji, parish priest of Bela church Fr Vincent D'Souza and Maulana Abdul Azeez of Manjeshwar.

Addressing the gathering, Sri Yogananda Saraswati Swamiji said, "This is not just a protest against the anti-Kannada order of the government, but also a movement against those who are opposed to Kannada."

Maulana Abdul Azeez said, "When you harm Kannada language, you harm Kannada culture too. We will never allow such attempts to succeed at any cost. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan should come forward to end the pressure on Kannada and save the language and its culture."

Fr Vincent D'Souza said, "The government's order to make Malayalam compulsory is sugar-coated on the outside, but if you really see inside, it is poison. Today we are sweating in this heat to protest against this move, but if necessary, we are ready to shed our blood too for this cause. The 20,000 Konkani Christians in Kasargod are supporting this protest."

Karnataka Horata Samiti president K Muralidhar Ballakkuraya presided over the protest meet. Treasurer Subramanya Bhat welcomed.

Parish priest of Kayyar church Fr Victor D'Souza, parish priest of Kumble St Monica church Fr Marcel Saldanha, ZP president A G C Basheer, member Harshad Vorkady, Congress district president Hakeem Kunil, BJP district president advocate K Srikanth, advocate Subbayya Rai, Ravish Tantry Kuntar, Ayesha Perla, senior Kannada activist Adoor Umesh Naik, Purushotham Master, and many others were present.

Police provided tight security to prevent any untoward incident.

The Kannada Horata Samiti has stated that it would continue with such protests till the government withdraws its order on Malayalam in schools.