The Hindu : Karnataka News : The politics of language

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Saturday, Apr 19, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

The politics of language

Vishwa Kundapura

CHICKBALLAPUR: While some Kannada activists have decided to contest elections, others have said they will support only those candidates who espouse the cause of Kannada and Kannadigas.

However, especially in districts bordering neighbouring States, the language of the neighbour is also widely prevalent.

Chickballapur is one such district that borders Andhra Pradesh. There are a considerable number of Telugu-speaking people in the border taluks of the district, such as Bagepalli and Chintamani.

Warning

The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike has issued a dictum that all political parties and candidates should use only Kannada while campaigning. “If a language other than Kannada is used by politicians, the organisation will launch an agitation against them,” vedike district president Raghunath Reddy has warned.

“Using Kannada will promote and strengthen the State language in the border areas. Politicians should contribute their mite to this cause by ensuring that they campaign only in Kannada,” says Mr. Reddy.

Implications

Some people have expressed apprehensions about the implications of the vedike’s stand.

“The diktat of the Kannada outfit may harm linguistic harmony in the region,” according to a youth association activist, Venkatappa.

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