Daijwiorld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Nov 17: Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav amused reporters in Bengaluru on Saturday when he was quizzed about his familiarity with Kannada during his private visit to the city.

Akhilesh, who met home minister Dr Parameshwara in what was described as a cordial interaction, was asked whether he still remembered the language from his student days in Karnataka.

With a grin, he replied, “Kannad gotthu (I know Kannada)… go ahead, ask. I can understand it. Maata naadalu baralla (I can’t speak fluently). Better still — keep me here for a while, I’ll pick it up again!” His quick-witted response drew laughter from those present.Reminiscing about his time in the city, he said the Bengaluru he knew as a student was far less crowded. “Today I landed at the airport and thought of the old days. Back then, it took just 45 minutes by auto to reach Majestic Circle. The city has grown tremendously since,” he remarked.

Akhilesh said he had known Dr Parameshwara since his college years and described him as a respected Dalit leader, adding that the familiarity from the past was the reason for his courtesy call during the visit.