Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Feb 23: Former MLA B Appanna Hegde said that the lacklustre attitude of minister Sunil Kumar over the query of establishing Kundapura Kannada academy by MLC Manjunath Bhandary which was raised in the legislative council is condemnable.

Hegde spoke in the press conference that was held at Akshatha auditorium of Hotel Hariprasad.

Appanna further said, “We have to understand that the answer of Sunil Kumar that it is common to speak various types of Kannada shows that he does not have knowledge. We can see the influence of Marati on Dharwad Kannada, Telugu on Gulbaraga Kannada, Tamil on Kolara Kannada and Malayalam on Mangaluru Kannada. However, Kundapura Kannada does not have influence of any other language.

“Kundapura Kannada is the life of people of Kundapur. Protest for establishing Kundapura Kannada academy and release of grant for Kundapura Kannada bench in Mangalore University is inevitable,” he aid.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Umesh Puthran, president of Kundapur taluk KaSaPa said, “More than 30 lac of people speak Kundapura Kannada. Though many researches have done study in knowing the depth of the language, it is not complete. If Kundapura Kannada academy is formed it is possible to have comprehensive study. MLC Manjunath Bhandary did a study and kept his report in front of the government. However, the answer given by minister Sunil Kumar has surprised the Kannada speakers of Kundapur. The minister should immediately recheck on the matter and establish Kundapura Kannada academy.”

Convener of Kundapur district protest committee Dinakara Shetty Mumbaru, chief secretary Ganapathi Sriyan, journalist U S Shenoy, Sudhakar Shetty Avarse, Avarse Ratnakar Shetty and Venkatesh Pai were present.