CM Siddaramaiah gives clarion call to make Kannada state's 'business language'
Raichur (Karnataka) (PTI): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday gave a clarion call to the people of Karnataka to make Kannada their 'business language'.
Speaking at an event to celebrate 50 years of naming the erstwhile Mysore state as Karnataka, the CM appealed to people to make Karnataka a Kannada state.
"All the people living here are Kannadigas. No matter what your home language is, the ‘business language’ should be Kannada. Kannada should be the main and first language in the state," he said.
"Learn every language, but Kannada should be the official language in the state," he added.
Dwelling on the Gokak agitation, which was related to granting Kannada the first language status in the state, the chief minister said the 'Kannada Kavalu Samiti' was formed to create an atmosphere for Kannada to prosper in Karnataka. Later, the committee became the Kannada Development Authority, he explained.
Siddaramaiah asked people to respect all languages, learn as many languages as possible but never be generous to give up Kannada, the language of this land.
On the occasion, the chief minister felicitated senior Kannada activists and leaders of the Gokak agitation.
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Priyanka Gandhi questions government's move to sell profitable Miniratna pharma company
Almora: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has raised concerns over the government's decision to sell Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (IMPCL), a profitable public sector unit. Located in Mohan, Almora, the pharmaceutical company was established in 1978 as a joint venture between the Central and State governments and is known for producing Ayurvedic and Unani medicines.
According to reports, IMPCL, a Miniratna company, earned a profit of ₹18 crore last year and is set to provide a ₹6 crore dividend to the government. It supplies medicines across India and exports them internationally as well. The company employs over 500 people, and thousands of small farmers depend on it for the supply of raw materials and produce.
Priyanka Gandhi criticised the move to sell the profitable unit, suggesting that it contradicts the government’s stance on promoting Ayurveda and AYUSH. “What could be the motive behind selling a profit-making pharmaceutical unit, other than to fill the coffers of select friends by handing over the nation’s valuable assets?” she tweeted.
She argued that the decision exposes the hypocrisy in the government's claim of promoting traditional medicine systems and questioned the rationale behind selling a company that benefits small farmers and contributes to the economy.
