'Hindi Diwas' took a political twist in Karnataka with the Congress and JD(S) leaders terming it as an 'imposition' of the language.
However, the ruling BJP batted for learning it just like Kannada and appealed to the people of the state not to treat it as imposition of a language.
The reaction of the parties comes in the wake of Union Home minister Amit Shah pitching for a common language for the country and saying it was Hindi which was spoken the most and can unite the whole country.
Tweeting in Kannada, former chief minister Siddaramaiah said, "The lie that Hindi is a national language should stop. Let it be known to all that it is just like Kannada, one among the 22 official languages of India.
You cannot promote a language by spreading lies and fake information. Languages flourish by affection and respect for each other."
He ran a hashtag 'Stop Hindi Imposition.'