Karnataka - Bijapur   

Protest against Maharashtra Minister’s statement

BIJAPUR: Members of various non-governmental organisations and political parties staged a protest here on Friday against Maharashtra’s opposition to classical language status for Kannada.

Activists, led by Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal, Bijapur MP, took out a procession in the main market area before holding a meeting at Gandhi Chowk, where they burnt an effigy of Vinay Kore, a Maharashtra Minister, who reportedly stated that if the Centre sanctioned classical language status to Kannada there would be a threat to the unity of the country.

His statement came close on the heels of the Maharashtra Government writing to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reconsider the proposal, if any, to accord classical language status to Kannada. Mr. Yatnal said Maharashtra, of late, had been coming in the way of Karnataka’s interests with regard to territory, river water and language. Kannada was one of the richest languages and seven of its writers had received Jnan Pith award, the highest literary honour of the country. It was not good for the neighbouring State to adopt a negative attitude.

“If Maharashtra wants any benefit from the Centre, let it try, but why come in the way of others?” he asked. Mr. Yatnal accused the Congress-led UPA Government of bias.

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