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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared on Monday that all cases filed against pro-Kannada activists, who had protested against the alleged violation of language norms by business establishments, will be withdrawn. The announcement came during the unveiling of a 25-feet-tall bronze statue of Bhuvaneshwari, the goddess symbolising Karnataka’s state identity, at the Vidhana Soudha premises in Bengaluru.
The statue, which cost approximately Rs 21.24 crore to sculpt, stands 41 feet tall, including its pedestal, and weighs around 31.5 tonnes. Siddaramaiah, while addressing the gathering, emphasised the importance of Kannada language and culture. He stated that while people should love and respect all languages, in Karnataka, Kannadigas should prioritise speaking and interacting in Kannada with their fellow citizens. “Instead of speaking incorrectly in other languages, we should speak our own language. In all our neighbouring states, the language spoken by the people of the respective state is sovereign. This should be practiced here, too,” said Siddaramaiah, as per a report on PTI.
Siddaramaiah further stressed the need for everyone in the state to respect Kannada language, culture, and art, and called for more efforts in learning and teaching Kannada. He added that only then will Kannada become the sovereign language, as per the report.
In 2023, pro-Kannada activists had targeted businesses that failed to display Kannada signboards, advertisements, and nameplates. The protests were aimed at ensuring compliance with the state’s rule mandating that 60 percent of nameplates in public spaces be in Kannada. Following these protests, cases were filed against several activists.
On Siddaramaiah’s announcement regarding the withdrawal of cases, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara clarified that there is a procedure for such decisions. Parameshwara told ANI, “There is a procedure. There is a committee in the cabinet sub-committee that will investigate. If it has to be withdrawn, it will go to the cabinet.”
#WATCH | Kalaburagi: On CM Siddaramaiah’s reported statement “Cases against pro-Kannada activists to be withdrawn,” Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara says, “There is a procedure. There is a committee in the cabinet sub-committee that will investigate. If it has to be… pic.twitter.com/j8Mxgk9SDg
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2025
