- By Priyanka Koul
- Sat, 10 Jan 2026 11:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has strongly opposed Kerala's reported plan to make Malayalam compulsory in Kannada-medium schools, asserting that no language should be imposed on linguistic minorities.
Siddaramaiah stated that while it is within a state legislature's power to pass laws, their implementation must honour the constitutional safeguards and respect linguistic diversity.
His comments come at a time when the debate over language rights and educational policies in southern India is gaining political attention, especially in regions where states share linguistic borders.
"You may pass a law, but it cannot be enforced in this way. It is wrong to force a language upon linguistic minorities," the Chief Minister told reporters at Pilikula Nisarga Dhama near Mangaluru.
He added, "It is unacceptable to demand that people whose mother tongue is different should be required to learn only Malayalam."
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Siddaramaiah further warned that if Kerala's proposed legislation is passed and given assent by the state's Governor, Karnataka would be compelled to address the matter.
"If it becomes law, we may have no choice but to stage a protest. We will also appeal to the Central Government and the President," he said, suggesting the issue might be escalated to the national level.
The Chief Minister stressed that India's federal structure and constitutional framework protect the rights of linguistic minorities, particularly in border regions where communities have historically preserved their language and culture. Any attempt to dilute these protections, he said, would set a dangerous precedent.