Siddaramaiah Writes To Kerala CM

BENGALUR: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday wrote a letter to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan expressing serious concerns about his government’s proposed Malayalam Language Bill, which mandates Malayalam as the compulsory first language even in Kannada medium schools in Kerala, especially in Kasargod, which shares the border with Karnataka.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who felt that the proposal was a threat to the existence of Kannada schools in Kerala, especially in Kasargod, warned Pinarayi Vijayan to use all available Constitutional rights to oppose the bill if it was passed.

“I urge the Government of Kerala to reconsider the proposed approach and engage in a broader, inclusive dialogue with linguistic minority communities, educators and neighboring States. Such engagement will strengthen the unity of India while preserving the dignity of every language and every citizen,” the Chief Minister of Karnataka said in his letter.

Siddaramaiah pointed out Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution, which guarantee Pinarayi Vijayan the right to preserve the language and manage educational institutions of choice. Further, the Chief Minister of Karnataka stated that Article 350A mandates educational facilities in the mother tongue and Article 350B mandates the State to protect the linguistic interests of minorities.

“Any legislative measure must reflect not only Constitutional legality but also Constitutional morality,” Siddaramaiah said, adding, “Any policy that enforces a single linguistic pathway risks placing an undue burden on children, undermining minority-run educational institutions, and shaking up long-standing educational ecosystems that serve these communities.”

Siddaramaiah told Pinarayi Vijayan that Kasragod in Kerala shares its border with Karnataka, where people of Malayalam, Kannada, Tulu, Beary and other languages ​​live in harmony and are living examples of mutual coexistence.