Government serious about considering Tulu as Additional Official Language: Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru: Karnataka's Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge expressed his pride in the rich history and cultural significance of the Tulu language and assured that the government is positively considering recognizing it as an additional official language.
Kharge's comments came in response to a question posed by Congress MLA Ashok Kumar Rai regarding the status of Tulu as a second additional official language.
During a legislative session, Kharge announced that a blueprint would be developed after conducting a meeting with ministers, legislators, and officials from the Tulu Academy, chaired by Speaker U T Khader. This meeting will follow the conclusion of the current legislative session. Kharge's remarks were made on behalf of the Kannada and Culture Minister.
Kharge noted that the Mohan Alva committee report, which addresses the official status of Tulu, is currently under review by the Department of Law. He highlighted examples from other states where multiple languages have been recognized as official, such as Urdu alongside Telugu in Andhra Pradesh, and Bihari with Hindi in Bihar. In West Bengal, languages like Bengali, Bihari, and Urdu are used regionally.
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Kharge further acknowledged that members of the Tulu community have independently traveled to various states to study the implementation of additional official languages. These findings have been compiled into a report submitted to the government. Kharge assured the assembly that the government would conduct its official study to determine the feasibility of adopting Tulu as an additional official language.
The proposal received support from several members of the house, including Vedavyas Kamath, Harish Poonja, and others, who echoed Ashok Kumar Rai's sentiments.
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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
