Karna CM worried over 'threats' faced by vernacular languages

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today strongly batted for vernacular languages, including Kannada, and expressed concern over "threats" faced by them from the current education system.
Inaugurating the 81st Kannada Sahitya Sammelan at Shravanabelogola near here, he said: "Today not only Kannada, but all the vernacular languages are facing threat. There are developments which are causing threat to their very existence."
"Recently Supreme Court in its order has ruled that medium of instruction for a child in school has to be as per the wishes of the parents. We have to understand that the threat is not only for Kannada but all other languages."

He said in each state the language of that particular state is the administrative language; similarly local language of the state should become the primary language of instruction. Instead of this if any other language is allowed to prove its dominance, it would be against the very objectives of linguistic division of states, he said.
Stating that the Constitution would also not accept it, he said while maintaining autonomy of the local language, an opportunity should be given to learn other languages. "This is the basic principle of our federal structure."
"We should protect vernacular language from the current education system that is turning into a business...There is a need to bring in a law for this. Also Constitution should be amended if required."

He said with this intention he had led an all party delegation to the Prime Minister last year and had also written letters to all Chief Ministers.
Siddaramaiah also mentioned about the state government's decision to amend the Karnataka Compulsory Primary Education Act, 2012 to impart primary education in Kannada in the state and strengthen its case before the Supreme Court where a related case is pending.
The apex court on May 6 last had held that the government cannot impose mother tongue on linguistic minority for imparting primary education.