President Droupadi Murmu with Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the diamond jubilee celebrations of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing in Mysuru, Karnataka.
Credit: RB via PTI Photo
In a light-hearted exchange, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday asked President Droupadi Murmu if she knew Kannada, during her visit to the state for the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) diamond jubilee celebrations in Mysuru.
Later, while she was addressing the gathering, she admitted she did not know the language, but would make all efforts to learn it.
"I would like to tell the honourable Chief Minister that although Kannada is not my mother tongue, I deeply cherish all the languages, cultures, and traditions of my country. I hold great respect and regard for each of them," she said.
Her response came after the Chief Minister's address in Kannada during which he asked the dignitaries at the event if they could understand the language.
The President was in Mysuru for the AIISH's diamond jubilee, where she emphasised on technological advancements and called for "innovation with compassion" for the welfare of the needy.
Siddaramaiah also acknowledged and applauded AIISH's development over the decades.
“Rs 32 crore is earmarked in the 2024-25 Budget, under ‘Shravana Sanjeevini’ scheme, for cochlear implantation among the speech and hearing impaired children, belonging to economically backward families,” he said at the event.