From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 1: As Karnataka is celebrating the 69th Rajyothsava Celebration to mark the formation of the State, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called upon the people to teach Kannada to non-Kannadigas while reiterating the Congress government’s honest efforts for its development.

Addressing the Rajyothsava Day celebration organised by the State Education and Literacy Department at Kanteerava stadium on Friday, he asked the people to be Kannadigas to protect and nurture the State’s official language of Kannada.

As 68 years have elapsed since the unification of Karnataka, he said the States’ Reorganisation Commission headed by Fazal Ali, which was formed in 1953, the State was formed on November 1, 1956 as Mysore and it was renamed as Karnataka by late Devaraj Urs on November 1, 1973 to indicate the entire State.

Siddaramaiah urged the people to use Kannada and resolve to speak in Kannada with others and also strive to teach Kannada to nonth Kannadigas. All the people who live in the State, drink water and breathe the State’s air become Kannadigas.

Kannada has a rich and glorious history of over over 2,000 years and has been recognised as a classical language.

“We should not become generous by sacrificing or neglecting our own mother tongue of Kannada. However, we should not be intolerant and other languages too. I am not asking the people not to learn other languages but appeal to everybody to use Kannada in their day-to-day life,” he said.

Pointing out that even Mahatma Gandhi had said advocated education in mother tongue to help in its development.

Insulting Kannada is against the interests of the State, he said and deplored the deprecation of people speaking in Kannada and abuse of Kannadigas in the social media. The government will take stern action against such people and ensure that such attitudes are curbed, he declared.

Kannada first, learn other languages too

The Chief Minister said the government is striving for the development of the State despite the injustice in the devolution of funds by the Centre. Karnataka stands second in tax contribution to the Centre in the entire country with collection of over Rs 4 lakh crore annually in the form of taxes. But the State is getting barely Rs 50 to 60,000 crore annually.

The members of parliament from Karnataka must become the voice of the aspirations of the people of the State and fight for justice, he said.

The Chief Minister said the school children and younger generation must not suffer malnutrition as they are the future of the State and the country. The government is doing its best to ensure quality education and improve the lives of the students, he added.