UT status for the State opposed

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was the first president of Kannada Kavalu Samithi, knows about the problems facing the State and Kannada language better than anybody, so he should show the conviction to solve them, said Maleyuru Guruswamy.

Delivering his key-note address from Ghanalingi Shivayogi podium on Sri Srikanteshwara Swamy temple here on Saturday, the chairman of the 12th District Level Kannada Literary Meet said that even people should educate themselves about problems like illegal mining, encroachment of border areas by Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, Hogenakal issue, Cauvery River Water Dispute, etc.

“Some vested interests had demanded Union Territory status for Bangalore. If the current trend of domination by outsiders continues, then we aren’t far from the day when they will seek UT status for the whole of Karnataka. So, people should assert themselves,” he said.

Proposals such as Kannada as medium of instruction, development of Kannada medium schools, Kannada as administrative language, etc have remained as mere slogans and permanent subjects for debate at various fora — without any steps taken for implementation. Now, people expect revolutionary steps from the State Government. Kannada medium schools should not be closed at any cost. Instead, they should be developed so as to attract parents to admit their wards, Guruswamy said.

Taking exception to the kind of language used in the media, especially in private news and entertainment satellite channels, he said there was need to constitute a supervisory body to regulate proper use of the language.

Recalling the contributions of Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar and other kings of the Yadu dynasty for the upliftment of the people and Kuvempu’s contributions for the enlightenment of the people through his writings, he said that the Mysore region had been the confluence of talent, like its rivers. MP A H Vishwanath inaugurated the meet, while former president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat Nallur Prasad presided over the function.

Earlier, the chairman was brought to the venue from Hejjige M Linganna Circle in a grand procession, accompanied by folk art troupes. He was personally greeted by the residents of the town. He is a popular teacher in the region as he served as a professor for over 20 years here.