Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Jun 20: Former chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday June 20 expressed rage against BJP and Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracy (PRIDE) for ignoring Kannada in the language training programme for MPs and officials. In a series of tweets, Kumaraswamy said that BJP was fundamentally against the Kannada language.
From June 22 onwards, PRIDE will organize 30 hours of virtual language classes for all MPs and government officials, where they will be trained in six foreign and six Indian languages. The languages selected are French, Portuguese, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, German, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu and Odiya.
Hitting out at BJP for ignoring Kannada, Kumaraswamy said, "PRIDE has ignored Kannada and has given priority to Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Odiya, Tamil and Telugu languages. This is the result of sending 25 MPs, who do not have any respect for Kannada language, to Lok Sabha from the state. The online training of these languages will start from June 22. MPs of various states, MLAs and officials will take part in this programme. French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish languages are being taught. Kannada should be included in this programme. Otherwise, all of us must boycott this.
"The centre neglects Kannada language each and every time. Only a few of us are speaking up against this. All should join hands against this attitude of the centre. We must stop crying and giving them hospitality. We should send a message that they will be in trouble if they forget Kannada. I have not seen a single BJP MP speaking against the negligent attitude of the central government against Kannada. By this people should understand that BJP is fundamentally against the Kannada language. If the state BJP leaders do not agree with my statement then let them set right this gross negligence by centre towards the Kannada language," he said.
"The proposal of higher education committee of restricting Kannada language study to just one year in the four year degree course according to national educational policy has disappointed Kannadigas. Study of Kannada language is not just a subject but a way to instill consciousness among the younger generation.
"It is unscientific to limit the study of language that is in our blood to just one year. Deputy chief minister Dr Ashwathnarayan has given clarification on this subject. According to the present study system there is no problem to study Kannada for two years. This has brought some solace. But if attempts are made to restrict it for one year, the consequences will be bad," he said.