Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Feb 6: "Kasargod is and will be a part of Karnataka for ever. The two MLAs of Manjeshwar and Kasargod who did not raise their voice for the Kannadigas there should resign at once," said Karnataka Rakshana Vedike spokesman Rahim Uchil.

Uchil was speaking in a road block protest held by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike at Talapady on Saturday, February 6 opposing the amendment to Kerala Official Languages Act, 1969, which makes Malayalam the sole language of communication in government offices and official documents and circulars. The amendment has been passed in the Kerala Assembly and is awaiting the governor's nod.

“The Kerala government which is all out to destroy Kannada language in Kasargod has come forward to question the importance of Kannadigas. Kannadigas in Kasargod are not orphans. Five crores people of Karnataka are with them. They will fight till death to preserve the identity of Kannadigas. The politicians have asked for vote in Kannada during elections. But the MLAs are unable to raise their voice now that Malayalam language bill is being passed. More than one lac people will go for intense protests if the bill is passed," he warned.

Kannada schools will have to be closed: "The 1969 Act gives people freedom to use their own languages. However, as per the bill passed by Kerala state government in December, 2015, all the people in the state have to compulsorily use Malayalam language. With that, 192 Kannada medium schools in Karnataka and Kerala border and nearly 11,400 school students in them will have no future. The files related to land meant to be used in the court are also in Malayalam, which will cause a lot of hardship, said teacher Sadashiva Rao.

Nearly 100 activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike blocked NH66 in Talapady. The police tried to pacify them and later detained them.

District president Anil Das, Nazir Hussain Bengre, Udupi district president S R Lobo, Sudesh Shet, Sumasoodana Gowda, Ashok, Subbayya, N A Hamza, Arun Kumar, Musir Ahmed, Rajesh, Jaleel, Moidin and others were present.