Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday announced that all cases filed against Kannada activists would be withdrawn, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protect the interests of the language.
Announcing a grand procession of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari and Annamma near Mysore Bank Circle, the Chief Minister urged Kannadigas to build an environment where Kannada thrives. “No matter what language someone speaks to you, reply in Kannada,” he appealed.
On the border issue, the Chief Minister reiterated that Belagavi is an integral part of Karnataka. “There will be no compromise on Belagavi; it is Kannada country and part of Karnataka, no one can deny that. Mahajan’s report is final,” he declared.
“Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) members are also Kannadigas. But if anyone indulges in hooliganism, we will definitely deal with it,” Siddaramaiah warned.
Bilingual policy
The Chief Minister said the government would continue to support the development of Kannada medium schools in the border areas and take strong action against any nuisance.
Clarifying his stance on language policy, Siddaramaiah said he personally supports a bilingual policy in education, but added that any official policy would have to be discussed and approved by the government.
The State Education Policy Commission has recommended implementing a bilingual policy in Karnataka, besides recommending Kannada as the medium of instruction up to class 5.
Published – 01 Nov 2025 21:05 IST
