Kannada activists block Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border

Demanding resumption of Kannada as first language in Kannada medium schools of Tamil Nadu, Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha, observed a ‘Gadi Bandh Chaluvali’ (block the border campaign), at Punajanur checkpost, in the district, on Wednesday.

The campaign was held on the National Highway-209, hampering the movement of vehicular traffic for close to an hour. Owing to the protest, police security had been beefed up on both sides of the border. Vatal Nagaraj of the Paksha and his supporters were arrested and released later.

Speaking during the protest, Vatal said, more than three lakh Kannada speaking population lived in Talavadi firkha of Tamil Nadu. “At Talavadi, there is a primary school, a high school and a PU college. So, opportunities should be given for the Kannada speaking population to opt Kannada as the first language in their curriculum,” he demanded.

He alleged that the Tamil Nadu government was plotting to shut down Kannada schools. If Tamil Nadu government does not change its stance, a massive protest will be staged with the support of the Kannada speaking population, he said.