71st Independence Day: Local language should get first priority in Karnataka, says Siddaramaiah

BENGALURU (INDIA): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said “imposition” of any language on a state, which has its own official language, is unconstitutional.nnThe statement comes against the backdrop of protests by pro-Kannada outfits against use of Hindi on Namma Metro signboards. Siddaramaiah had written to the Centre stating the state government was compelled to ask the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation to temporarily re-design signboards in stations without the Hindi language.nnAlso, the Kannada Development Authority had asked all nationalised, scheduled and rural banks in the state to ensure that all non-Kannada speaking staff learn the language in six months.nn”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,” Siddaramaiah said in his address on 71st Independence Day here.nnHe said the strength of the nation lies in the fact that all languages and communities not only co-exist, but also flourish by retaining their respective identities within the democratic set-up as ordained by our constitution.nnAsserting that people are witnessing the phenomena of communalism and casteism “raising their ugly heads all around, joined by fascist forces”, the chief minister said, “This is a very dangerous development about which all right thinking citizens are concerned.”nnSiddaramaiah asked people to take a pledge to annihilate divisive forces actively promoting communalism and casteism, “which are nothing but anti-national”.nnThe government was planning the third phase of the Metro, which is likely to add another 92 km to the existing network, he said, adding, “Together with all the phases, Bengaluru will have a total metro line of 250 km by the year 2022.”nnIn the last four years, 1.16 lakh small-scale and micro industrial units with Rs 22,175 crore of investment has been registered and 10.3 lakh jobs created, the chief minister said.nnBy December this year, 2,500 Gram Panchayats would have Wifi and remaining 3,500 would get it by 2018, making Karnataka a completely wifi-enabled state, he added.nnSource: Press Trust of India