Karnataka will fight if Kerala Governor approves Malayalam Bhasha Bill, says Siddaramaiah

Raising objection to the Malayalam Bhasha Bill of the Kerala government, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on January 10 that Karnataka will fight against it if the Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar approved the Bill.

To questions by press persons at Pilikula in Mangaluru, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the Kerala government is trying to force Malayalam on the Kannada-speaking linguistic minority in Kerala, especially on those living in the border district of Kasaragod. “It can not be imposed like that. They (Kerala government) don’t have the right.”

Forcing students to learn Malayalam as a first language is not right. “I have written a letter on the same (to Kerala). If the Bill becomes an Act, then Karnataka will fight against it. Karnataka will try to appeal against it to the Union government and the President of India,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

On the Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot returning three Bills of the Karnataka government, the Chief Minister said that the Governor has sought certain clarifications which will be given. The Bills will be re-submitted later.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the renovated resort of the Tourism Department at Pilikula Nisargadhama.