BENGALURU: Even as Chief Minster Siddaramaiah’s demand for a separate state flag is being viewed as parochial by the Opposition, he reinforced the Kannada spirit while facilitating UPSC toppers here on Wednesday.He pointed out that out of 59 toppers from the state, 21 candidates had chosen their main subject as Kannada in the civil service examination and five of them were from Kannada medium.
“It is a matter of pride that Nandini, this year’s UPSC topper, hails from our state. Kempahonnaiah, a visually challenged topper who secured 340th rank,is also from our state, which is a matter of great pride,” Siddaramaiah said.
“Everyone should have love, respect, and admire Kannada. The fact that we had to set up the Kannada Kavalu Samiti to supervise the implementation of Kannada as an official language means that we don’t respect it enough,” he said. Siddaramaiah was the first president of the samiti when he was part of the ruling Janata Party.“One IAS officer posted in the state refused to learn the language and so he was moved out. As IAS officers wherever you are posted learn the language of the state. The fact that Nandini also chose Kannada as her main subject reaffirms this spirit,” he said.
Everyone who spoke after that, from visually impaired Kempahonnaiah to Nandini, spoke about their love for Kannada quoting Kuvempu and philosopher Basavanna.Kannada Development Authority will award Rs 1 lakh to Nandini, this year’s topper, and Rs 1 lakh to those who took the exam in Kannada medium, and Rs 50,000 to candidates who chose Kannada as an optional subject in the civil services examination.
