‘Hindi Isn’t National Language’: Siddaramaiah Vows To Raise Voice For Kannada | Bengaluru-news News

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. (PTI file photo)

Karnataka Chief Minister on Monday said he does not oppose Hindi, but stressed that it is not India’s national language and that his government will firmly stand for Kannada and the rights of Kannadigas.

Addressing a public programme, Siddaramaiah said, “I do not oppose Hindi. But Hindi is not our national language.”

The Karnataka Chief Minister said Kannada people contribute significantly to the country’s economy. “Kannada people pay nearly ₹4.5 lakh crore in taxes every year. For every one rupee we pay, we get back only 14 paise from the Centre,” he said.

Siddaramaiah added that Karnataka ranks number one in the country in terms of per capita income, which, according to him, was achieved through various welfare and development programmes of the state government.

The Chief Minister said Kannada is a sovereign language and recalled that states were reorganised on linguistic lines in 1956. He also referred to 1973, when Devaraja Urs renamed the state as Karnataka. Siddaramaiah criticised the BJP for not celebrating the 50th anniversary of the state’s renaming, saying his government marked the occasion across Karnataka.

He said the government would not compromise on matters related to Kannada language, land, water, borders and employment for Kannadigas. “Our government will always stand at the forefront in protecting Kannada,” he said.

Siddaramaiah said he would continue to raise his voice for Kannada and noted that the Mahadayi project would be implemented once environmental clearance is granted by the Centre. He also said the Centre has not yet issued a gazette notification for the Krishna Phase III project.

Calling upon people, he said Kannadigas should condemn what he described as the “stepmotherly attitude” of the central government towards Karnataka.