BENGALURU: There should be no imposition of another language on the state besides its own, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah while speaking at the 71st Independence Day celebrations here on Tuesday.
His assertion came in the backdrop of the protest against the imposition of Hindi signages in Metro stations. Siddaramaiah said, “Every State has its own official language and our Constitution recognises the primacy of that language in the state to the exclusion of other languages. Hence, imposition of any other language in a state is unconstitutional and it is against the spirit of formation of states on linguistic basis.”
He said the Congress government’s concept of development is based on inclusiveness that aims to usher in improved level of standard of living. “Ours is a pluralistic society with many languages, cultures and communities. The strength of our nation lies in the fact that all these not only co-exist but are flourishing by retaining their respective identities within the democratic set-up as ordained by our Constitution. This is unity not only in diversity, but also unity through diversity,” he said.
He claimed that communalism and casteism were raising their ugly heads all around, joined by facist forces. “This is a very dangerous development about which all right thinking citizens are concerned,” he said.
Boost for sports
An amount of Rs 10 crore has been earmarked this year to provide financial and other necessary support to most talented 1,000 young sportspersons under the Karnataka Sahasra Keeda Prathibha Yojana. Under Yuva Chaitanya Programme 2,000 sports associations would be provided with sports equipment worth Rs 1 lakh each.
Tourist facilities under one roof
Soon the Tourism Department and its organizations such as Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, Jungle Lodges and Resorts Limited, Karnataka Exhibition Authority will come under a Common Portal of integrated Digital Technology platform. “Under the Puneeta Yatra Yojana, pilgrims can travel in KSTDC buses with concessional fares,” he added.
New varsity
A new university is being established in Raichur to promote and encourage higher education in Hyderabad-Karnataka region. Colleges in the districts of Raichur and Yadgir would be brought under the perview of this university, the CM said.
Wi-fi enabled state
Siddaramaiah added that by December 2017, 2,500 gram panyachats would have WIFI facility. The remaining 3,500 will have WIFI by 2018, he said.