Kannada should stay as the main language, Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: The decision to have English as the medium of instruction in 1,000 government schools in the state from next academic year is set to become a new bone of contention between Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his Congress predecessor Siddaramaiah.

The Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JDS coalition government has moved ahead with its plan to have 1,000 English medium government schools, drawing flak from Siddaramaiah.

Speaking on the occasion of free book distribution ceremony at the Kalidas Vidyalaya at Badami in Bagalkot district, Siddaramaiah Thursday insisted that there should be clarity on Kannada, the state language.

“There should be clarity on issue of Kannada language as the medium of instruction. I studied in Kannada till my highschool. Am I stupid? Kannada should stay as the main languageacross Karnataka,” Siddaramaiah insisted.

The former chief minister said he would speak to Kumaraswamy who has been strongly defending the government’s move, ignoring the opposition from Kannada protagonists.

Siddaramaiah’s remarks come at a time when cracks have surfaced between the two coalition partners Congress and JD(S) over several issues.