'Karnataka's concerns over Malayalam language bill baseless': Pinarayi Vijayan writes to CM Siddaramaiah

Vijayan pointed out that the bill did not impose Malayalam as first language on linguistic minorities in Kerala schools, but only provides an option for linguistic minorities to study Malayalam in Kerala schools along with their mother tongue.

Thiruvanathapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has informed his Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah that the concerns expressed by the Karnataka government over the Malayalam language bill are baseless as it did not impose Malayalam language on the linguistic minorities in Kerala.

Vijayan on Wednesday wrote a reply to a letter by Siddaramaiah in this regard earlier this month.

Vijayan pointed out that Malayalam Language Bill-2025 did not impose Malayalam as first language on linguistic minorities in Kerala schools, but only provides an option for linguistic minorities to study Malayalam in Kerala schools along with their mother tongue. Malayalam examination is also not made compulsory in tenth standard and higher secondary. The bill also has provisions for linguistic minorities to use Kannada and Tamil for communications with Kerala government offices as well as to get replies in those languages.

"The thrust for Malayalam will not be a barrier for promoting other languages. The Malayalam Language Bill was prepared by giving due consideration to the socio-cultural relations between Kerala and Karnataka as well as by upholding corporate federalism. There are no provisions that curtails the constitutional rights of linguistic minorities in the bill," Vijayan said.