Bengaluru, Sep 14: 'Hindi Diwas' took a political twist in Karnataka with the Congress and JD(S) leaders terming it as an 'imposition' of the language.
However, the ruling BJP batted for learning it just like Kannada and appealed to the people of the state not to treat it as imposition of a language.
The reaction of the parties comes in the wake of Union Home minister Amit Shah pitching for a common language for the country and saying it was Hindi which was spoken the most and can unite the whole country.
Tweeting in Kannada, former chief minister Siddaramaiah said, "The lie that Hindi is a national language should stop.
Let it be known to all that it is just like Kannada, one among the 22 official languages of India.
You cannot promote a language by spreading lies and fake information. Languages flourish by affection and respect for each other."
However, the Congress leader reminded that he was not opposed to Hindi but the attempt to impose a language.
"Languages are the window of knowledge. It should be nurtured by love and not by force. I too oppose the Hindi Diwas celebrations," he tweeted.
JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy sought to know from Prime Minister Narendra Modi when 'Kannada Diwas' would be organised across the country.
"The Central government is celebrating 'Hindi Diwas.' When will you celebrate Kannada Diwas Mr Narendra Modi, which is also an official language like Hindi? Remember that the people of Karnataka are part of the federal system," Kumaraswamy tweeted.
He ran a hashtag 'Stop Hindi Imposition.'
On the other hand, Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar pitched for learning Hindi.
"We learnt Hindi watching former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's lecture in chaste Hindi.
He was the first leader from India who gave his lecture in Hindi," said the minister speaking at the Hindi Diwas and organised by the district administration at Chamarajanagar.
The minister said Hindi should be given equal place just as Kannada.
He also assured the Hindi teachers of addressing their grievances.
Siddaramaiah had on Friday cried foul over not holding the bank clerk recruitment exam, conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, in Kannada.
Meanwhile, a pro-Kannada outfit has warned of agitations from October 1, if the Centre 'imposes' Hindi in the state.
ಹಿಂದಿ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಭಾಷೆ ಎಂಬ ಸುಳ್ಳು ಪ್ರಚಾರ ನಿಲ್ಲಲಿ,
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 14, 2019
ಅದು ಕನ್ನಡದಂತೆಯೇ ೨೨ ಅಧಿಕೃತ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಎನ್ನುವುದು ತಿಳಿದಿರಲಿ. ಸುಳ್ಳು-ತಪ್ಪುಮಾಹಿತಿ ಮೂಲಕ ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು ಬೆಳೆಸಲಾಗದು.
ಭಾಷೆ ಪರಸ್ಪರ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕೊಡು-ಕೊಳ್ಳುವಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತದೆ.#HindiDiwas #HindiImposition
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Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
