Published 20:34 IST, September 16th 2019
Yediyurappa 'won't compromise on importance of Kannada' in Karnataka
Karnataka CM Yediyurappa has said that he is not ready to compromise on the importance of Kannada and that his govt will promote the language & state's culture
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Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday said that Kannada is the principal language of the State and he is not ready to compromise on its importance. On his twitter handle, he also mentioned that all the official languages in India have equal importance and the Government of Karnataka is committed to promoting Kannada and the State's culture. This statement comes after the Union Home Minister Amit Shah put forward the idea of ‘One Nation, One Language’ during the Hindi Diwas speech on September 14. The Home Minister further pushed for the need for one language so that foreign languages don't find a place in the Nation.
CM Yediyurappa's tweet
All official languages in our country are equal. However, as far as Karnataka is concerned, #Kannada is the principal language. We will never compromise its importance and are committed to promote Kannada and our state's culture.
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) September 16, 2019
Other leaders opposing Amit Shah's Hindi pitch
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President MK Stalin, since the past two days, has been launching an attack at the Centre over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's idea of ‘One Nation, One Language.’ Stalin now has said that they are ready for any sacrifice to oppose Hindi imposition.
While speaking at an event in Thiruvannamalai today, MK Stalin said,
"We should all be ready for another anti-Hindi agitation just like what happened in 1937. Students, youngsters, and Tamil people should participate in this protest against Hindi imposition as this issue is about culture and language."
Moreover, the leader said that DMK will bring together all non-Hindi speaking States to join the protest.
Karnataka Congress Legislature Party (CLP) chief Siddaramaiah, on Sunday, termed Shah a 'wicked insider in a joint family'. He claimed that Amit Shah was bent in breaking the unity of the nation. He goes on to say that the 'homewrecker needs to be taught a lesson'. Siddaramaiah, like many political leaders, has maintained that India's diversity is the key to its unity. Siddaramaiah also added that each Indian state explains its own culture and practice.
India has rich history & diverse geography. Each explains its own vibrant culture & practice. We have to embrace the diversity to remain United.@AmitShah is like a wicked insider in a joint family who find ways to break the unity. This home wrecker needs to be taught a lesson!! pic.twitter.com/00yjotxVf1
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 15, 2019
The Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed his disagreement on Shah’s statement, claiming it was 'absurd'. After a series of criticisms from opposition parties, the Kerala CM has taken to Twitter to condemn Shah about his 'Hindi Diwas' remark.
The claim that Hindi unifies our country is absurd. That language is not the mother tongue of a majority of Indians. The move to inflict Hindi upon them amounts to enslaving them. Union Minister's statement is a war cry against the mother tongues of non-hindi speaking people.
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) September 15, 2019
'Nation needs to have One Language': Amit Shah
Home Minister Amit Shah, on the occasion of Hindi Diwas, pitched the idea of ‘One Nation, One Language’ during his speech and went ahead to say that diversity of languages and dialects is the strength of our Nation. He further pushed for the need for one language so that foreign languages don't find a place in the Nation. He said, "This is why our freedom fighters envisioned Hindi as 'Raj Bhasha'." This statement led to many political parties and its leaders taking a hit at the Home Minister.
18:50 IST, September 16th 2019