Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan defends Malayalam Language Bill, says apprehensions do not reflect facts

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday defended the Malayalam Language Bill, 2025, in strong terms saying that apprehensions with respect to the Bill “do not reflect the facts or the inclusive spirit of the legislation passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly.”

Mr. Vijayan’s post comes on the heels of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging him to withdraw the Bill to protect the interests of the Kannada-speaking linguistic minorities in Kerala.

“Kerala’s progress has always been rooted in comprehensive development anchored in equality and brotherhood. The government remains steadfast in upholding the constitutional values of secularism and pluralism. The Bill contains a clear and unambiguous non-obstante clause (Clause 7) to safeguard the rights of linguistic minorities, particularly the Kannada and Tamil speaking communities,” Mr. Vijayan said in an X post.

‘Avoids imposition’

Mr. Vijayan added that the Bill has provisions to avoid imposition of any language and to protect linguistic freedom. “In notified areas, Tamil and Kannada speakers may continue to use their mother tongues for official correspondence with the Secretariat, Heads of Departments, and local offices, with replies issued in the same languages,” he said.

Along with his X post, he also shared a screenshot of Clause 7 of the Bill which deals with ‘Special provisions regarding other State-linguistic minorities’ and protects their language rights.

Kerala’s language policy, he said, is “fully aligned” with the Official Languages Act, 1963, and Articles 346 and 347 of the Constitution of India. “India’s diversity is to be celebrated, not forced into a single mould,” he added.

Students whose mother tongue is not Malayalam are free to choose languages available in schools in accordance with the National Education Curriculum, Mr. Vijayan said. Students from other States or foreign countries are not compelled to appear for Malayalam examinations at the IX, X, or Higher Secondary levels, he said.

Kerala’s policies are founded on the ‘Kerala Model of participation and transparency,’ he said, adding that government resists any erosion of federal rights while remaining committed to protecting the linguistic identity of every citizen.