Kannada Cause

K'taka CM Siddaramaiah asks people to make Kannada their business language

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday gave a clarion call to the people of Karnataka to make Kannada their 'business language'. Speaking at an event to celebrate 50 years of naming the erstwhile Mysore state as Karnataka, the CM appealed to people to make Karnataka a Kannada state. "All the people living here are Kannadigas. No matter what your home language is, the business language' should be Kannada. Kannada should be the main and first language in the state," he said. "Learn every language, but Kannada should be the official language in the state," he added. Dwelling on the Gokak agitation, which was related to granting Kannada the first language status in the state, the chief minister said the 'Kannada Kavalu Samiti' was formed to create an atmosphere for Kannada to prosper in Karnataka. Later, the committee became the Kannada Development Authority, he explained. Siddaramaiah asked people to respect all languages, learn as many languages as possible but never be generous to

What is the 60% Kannada signage rule? Here's all to know about the law

After the Karnataka HC asked the State to avoid any coercive action against shops failing to comply with the Kannada on signboards rule, here's a look at the history of the Kannada preference struggle

K'taka Guv sends ordinance on 60% use of Kannada in signboards back to govt

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has sent back an ordinance mandating 60 per cent use of Kannada in signboards of businesses and establishments, to the state government. This was revealed by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday. "We (the government) approved an ordinance on signboards. The Governor has sent it back saying it should be passed in the Assembly. He could have given his assent now. Giving protection and respect to Kannada is our government's commitment," Shivakumar said. The Karnataka Cabinet had on January 5, given its approval to an ordinance to amend the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act that mandates 60 per cent use of the state's language in signages. The government had decided to take the ordinance route in the wake of violent protests by pro-Kannada organisations targeting businesses and establishments in Bengaluru for not giving prominence to Kannada. As of now, the law requires the use of Kannada language in the upper-half portion

Will ensure that BJP wins more than 25 LS seats in K'taka: Ex-CM Shettar

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Saturday said the process to bring him back to the BJP had been on for the last five to six months, as he gave large credit to state president B Y Vijayendra and veteran leader B S Yediyurappa. He said one of the main reasons for his return to the BJP is to contribute towards making Narendra Modi prime minister once again, and that he will work towards ensuring that the party wins most of the seats in the state in the coming Lok Sabha polls. Shettar rejoined the BJP by quitting Congress in New Delhi on Thursday. He had joined the grand old party, ahead of assembly polls last year, after being denied a ticket by the BJP to contest the elections. "It is the wish of crores of Indians that Modi's leadership is needed for the country. The BJP is a cadre based party and when I was travelling across the state as a Congress leader, BJP workers used to ask me to return to the party; along with that there was also a call by several state ..

K'taka Rakshana Vedike (NG) activists damage signboards in Bengaluru

The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayana Gowda faction) on Wednesday targeted business establishments in Bengaluru and damaged their signboards and name plates which did not use Kannada. The activists took out rallies in various parts of the city, especially in the business hubs such as MG Road, Brigade Road, Lavelle Road, UB City, Chamarajapet, Chickpet, Kempe Gowda Road, Gandhi Nagar, St Marks Road, Cunningham Road, Residency Road and Sadahalli Gate near Devanahalli. The activists said the business establishments were "undermining the official language of Karnataka, which is Kannada." Many malls, shops, commercial buildings, companies and factories, especially multinational companies, faced the ire of KRV activists. They destroyed and defaced signboards and name plates which were not in Kannada. Later, the agitating members including the KRV convener T A Narayana Gowda, were taken under preventive custody by police. Speaking to reporters, Gowda said the name plates and signboards

Shops must have 60% Kannada language nameplates by Feb 28: BBMP chief

After issuing the notice, they will be given time till February 28 to implement Kannada language nameplates and submit compliance to the respective zone commissioners," Tushar Giri Nath said

Hold competitive exams in Kannada as well: CM Siddaramaiah to Centre

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday made a pitch for holding competitive exams for central government jobs in Kannada saying it is not possible to conduct them in Hindi or English alone. Addressing people at Kanteerava Stadium on the occasion of 68th Karnataka Rajyotsava, the Chief Minister said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a relook at the medium of language for these exams. "Shivaji Nagar MLA Rizwan Arshad has rightly said that the Central government conducts the exams only in Hindi and English. We need to oppose it," he said. According to him, it is not possible to hold the competitive exams in Hindi and English alone. "Our children will write the exams in the language they know. I will request our Prime Minister to take a relook (at the mode of language)," Siddaramaiah said. Noting that only government schools have Kannada as the medium of instruction and not private schools, the Chief Minister lamented there was a misconception among pe

Over 10 mn people sing six classic Kannada songs in a record of sorts

The 'Koti Kanta Gaayana' programme on Friday received overwhelming response with an estimated more than one crore people singing six classic Kannada songs in various locations across the State. The mass singing programme was organised by the Kannada and Culture Department in the run-up to Karnataka Rajyotsava (state formation day) on November one. More than one crore people sang at the same time in entire Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters after inaugurating the event on the footsteps of 'Vidhan Soudha' here. "It's a world record", he said as he highlighted the people's passion for the Kannada language and culture.

Kannada groups ask Karnataka govt to follow TN model, stop Hindi imposition

The debate on Hindi imposition has been raging in Karnataka ever since the Committee of Parliament on Official Language headed by Union Minister Amit Shah submitted its report to the President

State scan: Flagging the Kannada cause

In an election year, the Congress finds this compelling. Led by the CM, protests imposition of Hindi