As Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar began his speech at the main function at Kanteera Stadium here, SFI activists who were seated among the gathering raised slogans against the proposal by Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Prof Govinda's recommendation for winding up 12,740 government Kannada medium schools in the state.
However, they were whisked away by the police and taken into preventive custody. After the brief disruption, the ceremony resumed.
SFI had announced that it would disrupt the Rajyotsava celebrations across the state protesting the recommendation of Govinda, heading a commission of structural upgrading and reorganisation of school education set up by the state government.
SFI activists also disrupted Rajyotsava celebrations in Mangalore.
Later in his address, Shettar gave a call for the merger of Kannada-speaking areas in the neighbouring states with Karnataka.
Shettar said the government introduced distribution of bicycles to children from 8th standard to curb school dropouts especially after seventh standard. "So far 5.56 lakh students have benefited under the scheme," he said.
Free uniform and books from class one to 10th and mid-day meal is being provided to 65,12,000 students, he said.
Shettar said the second reach of 'Namma Metro' will be ready for public in next six months.
It was on this day in 1956 that Karnataka was formed on linguistic basis and called Vishal Mysore State and it was renamed as Karnataka on November 1, 1973.
