People raking up row over Hindi, says Kageri

Asserting that it was not difficult for people to accept Hindi as national language, much as English was easily accepted and assimilated, BJP MLA Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri chided those creating needless controversy stating Hindi was being imposed raking up emotive issues on regional lines to gain mileage.

Addressing Rajyotsava Celebrations here, Kageri said such sections of self interested people were ruefully increasing of late much against the secular fabric of the country.

In this regard, he pointed out that despite people's vaunted preference for other languages over their very own, Kannada was still a rich and indestructible language which stands its own.

Describing the State language as unique one, Kageri said it knits people emotionally and bonds formed on foundations of emotion do not crumble easily. There in lay the charms of Kannada language, he added, assuaging local sentiments regarding accepting Hindi as a national language.

Speaking on occasion, Assistant Commissioner Raju Mogaveer said, language learned at home led to inculcating good culture, and, in turn, contributes to a person's social and individual development.

Despite arguments over acceptance of different language words, one should know that, it is necessary to borrow words from other languages, to make one's own language effective. The diversity of the language must be enlarged by the people, using different languages, he asserted.

Zilla Panchayat member Basavraj Dodmani, Taluk Panchayat president Shreelata Kaleramane, Vice-president Chandru Devadiga, City Development Authority president Madhav Revankar, CMC member Veena Shetty, Deputy Superintendent of Police P Nagesh Shetty, DDPI M S Prasannakumar, DIET Head B V Naik, Tahsildar Basappa Pujari, V M Bhat, BEO Sadanand Swamy were present.

A 160 metre long Kannada flag, along with street plays presented by students, recalling the great leaders, litterateurs and freedom fighters from Karnataka, patriotic songs and statue of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, which formed part of the festivity, added lustre to the fervid celebrations.

Deputy Commissioner K Raju Mogaveer offered puja to the statue of Kannadambe at Marikamba High School, followed by flag hoisting.

Later, procession was taken through major streets of the City, which saw school children, police, scouts and guides, Seva Dal volunteers and senior citizens participating. m

As many as 400 school children held the long flag during the procession.

The flag, which took a week to weave, and cost Rs 12,000 was the brainwave of The Red Ant Organisation's Mahesh and his friends.