Karnataka - Belgaum   

`Suvarna Karnataka should focus on strengthening Kannada'

Staff Correspondent

Government criticised for not making Kannada compulsory in schools

BELGAUM: Veteran journalist Patil Puttappa has sought to assure all Kannadigas in the State that there would not be any change in the status of Belgaum.

His reference was to the State Government and elected representatives in Bangalore who he claimed had no perception about the history or culture of the land or concern for the Kannada language.

He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a function organised to mark "Suvarna Karnataka" celebrations at KLES Lingaraj College here on Thursday.

Mr. Puttappa drew attention towards the "unexpected attitude" exhibited by four Ministers from the State in the United Progress Alliance Government at the Centre, including Oscar Fernandes, K.H. Muniappa and M.V. Rajasekharan during his visit to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Classical status

He said he had informed all the Ministers about his intention to meet the Prime Minister to apprise the latter on the issue concerning Karnataka and the demand for classical status for Kananda language.

But, none of them were keen to organise the meeting with the Prime Minister.

That he later managed to get an appointment on his own with the Prime Minister is a different issue, he added. He said though the Government was celebrating "Suvarna Karnataka", he wondered whether the celebrations were meaningful and served any purpose to infuse energy to strengthen Kannada language and culture.

Kannada in schools

He said the Government was not making Kannada a compulsory subject in all schools as its education policy was predominantly influenced by economic criteria.

R. Laxminarayan, joint director, Department of Collegiate Education, Dharwad, highlighted the objectives of the event. Director K.V. Kodandaramaiah presided over the function. The KLES secretary F.V. Manvi and principal Basavaraj Jagjampi were present.

The function was jointly organised by the Department of Collegiate Education, Dharwad, and Lingraj College.

Earlier, students from various colleges took out a rally through the main roads of the city.

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`Suvarna Karnataka should focus on strengthening Kannada'

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