Pragmatism or Chauvinism.. What will prevail?

Minister criticises film ban
Deccan Herald

Agriculture Minister K Srinivasa Gowda has criticised the moratorium on the release of non-Kannada movies in the State.

Speaking at the fifth convention of the KSRTC’s Kannada Kriya Samithi in Kolar on Sunday, the minister said love for one’s mother tongue is understandable but hatred for other languages is not. “I do not know how to react to the violence in Bangalore to stop the screening of non-Kannada movies...it is a kind of filmi war,” the minister said.

The minister had a few words of wisdom too. “Do not hate any language. Be an Indian first and a Kannadiga later. To oppose non-Kannada movies is like building a fort around ourselves. Freedom is important,” he said, expressing his displeasure at the current situation.

Idinabba talks tough on non-Kannadigas
Deccan Herald

Kannada Development Authority (KDA) chairman B M Idinabba has called for stringent measures against non-Kannadigas settled in Karnataka who do not accept the supremacy of Kannada within the State.

Participating in a literary award ceremony organised by the Pampa Pratishtana and `Hello Kannadiga’, a local weekly in the City on Sunday, he said, the State Government should make it mandatory for non-Kannadigas who come to Karnataka to learn Kannada within15 years. Those who refuse to accept the supremacy of Kannada while residing in Karnataka should be stripped of their right to vote, he demanded.

Meanwhile, Mr Idinabba warned that the demand for separate statehood could lend strength to the neighbouring states which were waiting to grab the territory of Karnataka.

Many visionaries including former chief minister S Nijalingappa fought for the unification of Karnataka. But, the demand for separate statehood would defeat the very purpose, which worked as an undercurrent for the unification of the State. There was nothing wrong in the demand for a high court bench in North Karnataka. “But, let us not talk about dividing Karnataka to fulfil this objective”, he appealed.