The Kannada Development Authority will soon start 40 ‘Kannada Kalika Kendras’ here to teach Kannada to linguistic minorities.
Speaking at a function organised by Karnataka Industry and Commerce Kannada Organisations’ Federation to mark its fifth anniversary on Tuesday, Authority Chairman Siddalingaiah said the programme was aimed at spreading Kannada.
Launching the Federation’s website, he said many non-Kannadigas were showing interest in learning Kannada. Stating that a meeting had been held with the officials of BBMP regarding cancellation of licence to business establishments which did not display boards in Kannada, Siddalingaiah said pressure would be mounted on BBMP officials in the coming days.
Akhila Karnataka Sharana Sahitya Parishat President Go Ru Channabasappa regretted that Kannadigas had to wage a fight for exercising their due rights over their land, water, language.
Writer L S Seshagiri Rao said all politicians should make up their minds to fight for classical language status for Kannada.