MYSURU: Reiterating his demand for a separate flag for Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said it should not be seen as a threat to national integrity.Inaugurating the 83rd Ahkila Bharata Kannada Sahithya Sammelana here on Friday, Siddaramaiah said: “opposition to a separate Karnataka flag amounts to disrespect to the state and its culture”.Maintaining that his government is committed to education in the mother tongue, he said there is a need to bring an amendment to the Constitution to materialise this objective.
Siddaramaiah said efforts will be made to bring chief ministers of all states together to reach a consensus on bringing in constitutional amendment on the matter.He claimed that the state believes in “linguistic harmony” on the lines of communal harmony, but said non-Kannadigas residing in Karnataka should “compulsory learn Kannada”.“Karnataka government has made provisions for a five per cent reservation for Kannada medium candidates appearing in Karnataka Public Service Commission exams. ICSE and CBSE schools are directed to teach Kannada compulsorily from class 1. Bank employees must learn Kannada,” he said.
Terming the inauguration of the literary meet in his native district as one of the best moments in his life, the Chief Minister claimed Kannada is not politics for him.“Kannada is my life and I have never compromised on the state’s interest,” he said adding there is nothing wrong in becoming emotional when it comes to Kannada.
“The government has increased budgetary allocation for the Kannada and Culture Department from `160 crore to `424 crore apart from giving away `12 crore for Sahithya Sammelan that will discuss matters connected with Kannadigas,” Siddaramaiah said. He called upon people to buy and read Kannada books, newspapers and promote the same habit among the children.
Drop Tanveer Sait: Patil
Chandrashekar Patil asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to drop Primary Education Minister Tanveer Sait or change his portfolio. He said Sait is not following the “culture” set by the erstwhile Primary Education Minister Govinde Gowda. Taking exception to his absence from the literary meet, Patil said the Minister should be “axed from the cabinet”. Earlier, writer Baragur Ramachandrappa said he has raised the issue of schools being converted into tutorials to prepare students for competitive examinations. “I had strongly opposed (it) and written a letter to Tanveer Sait and Chief Minister. No action has been taken,”
Ramachandrappa said.
Yummy lunch!
The lunch served at the meet came in for a praise. As the word “yummy” started spreading, people made a beeline to the food counters set up behind the pavilion at Maharaja’s college ground. Separate food counters were arranged for VIPs and media persons to ensure that nothing goes awry. The menu for lunch had poori, saagu, kajjaya, a sweet item, pakoda, pulav, rice and curry and curd rice. Apart from the food items, the affable attenders also got a pat on their backs as they were eager to oblige to the demand for ‘one more’. As and when any shortcomings were noticed, announcements were made over microphones to ensure orderliness.