HAVERI: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said that the state government is committed to giving a legal status for the comprehensive development of language with 80 per cent priority for Kannadigas in industries, special funds for border areas development and protecting interests of Kannadigas living within and across the border.
Speaking at the 86th All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelan here on Friday, Bommai said Kannada is an ancient language and the life of Kannadigas is ancient and best. “Culture, heritage and history are the core strength of Kannada language”, he said.
The Kannada literary world has given the language life with emotions and meaning. Literature plays an important role in the culture of this language and it needs to be identified and promoted. Kannada language must be spread across the country to ensure its growth everywhere and this is the main aim of the Kannada meet, the Chief Minister said.
Bommai said retrospection is a must for any language or culture to grow and in that, they must make an introspection of their roles and then build the future. “Kannada language will grow as long as the Sun and Moon exist. No language in India has won so many Jnanpith awards as Kannada language. Eight literary giants of Kannada have bagged the Jnanpith award. Besides, two Saraswati Sanman awards have come to Kannada,” he said.
He said when leaders of North Karnataka launched the Kannada Ekikaran agitation, many litterateurs, including Kuvempu, joined the stir and united Kannada. Due to the concerted efforts, Kannada language and Karnataka are united. He further said the state of Karnataka is fertile and there are 10 agriculture zones here. There will be one or the other crop in the state every day. In the last five years, 1.5 lakh hectares have been irrigated and the next decade will be the decade of irrigation. The government vows to complete all the irrigation projects in the next 10 years, Bommai said. (ANI)