Kerala language bill 2025 sparks controversy; Siddaramaiah demands immediate withdrawal

Bengaluru

 The Kerala government’s proposed ‘Malayalam Language Bill 2025’ has sparked widespread concern among Kannadigas in Kasargod. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has strongly opposed the bill, urging the Kerala government and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to withdraw it immediately. In a detailed message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Siddaramaiah warned that if Kerala disregards the interests of Kannadigas in Kasaragod and imposes the language on them, his government will stand in support of the affected community and take all necessary measures.

Siddaramaiah characterized the bill as an attack on constitutional language rights. He expressed regret that Kerala’s move to make Malayalam mandatory as the first language in Malayalam medium schools, as proposed in the bill, undermines the constitutional guarantee of linguistic freedom. Such legislation, he warned, would deprive Kannadigas in Kasargod of their right to learn and use their mother tongue. He criticized the Kerala government’s actions, saying that it’s unexpected for a communist-led government to suppress linguistic minorities’ fundamental rights.

The Chief Minister emphasized the emotional bond between Kasargod and Karnataka. Despite Kasargod’s administrative inclusion in Kerala, its residents feel a strong cultural and emotional connection to Karnataka. They speak Kannada, celebrate Kannada festivals, and are part of Karnataka’s cultural fabric. Siddaramaiah asserted that protecting their linguistic rights is the duty of his government. He reiterated that India’s unity lies in its diversity and that every citizen has the right to learn in their mother tongue.

He also appealed to Pinarayi Vijayan to withdraw the Malayalam Language Bill 2025. Siddaramaiah highlighted that for linguistic minorities, their mother tongue is not just a language but a matter of dignity and identity. Scientific studies prove that children learn better in their mother tongue, and imposing a foreign language hampers their educational development. Such measures, he warned, could lead to the marginalization of minority languages and threaten India’s multicultural ethos.

Kasargod has a long history of Kannada influence. Many generations there have studied in Kannada medium and continue to use Kannada in daily life. Surveys indicate that nearly 70% of students in Kasargod prefer to learn in Kannada. Siddaramaiah emphasized that no language is against another; India’s strength is in its multilingual, multicultural, and multi-religious fabric. Any attempt to undermine this diversity is dangerous, he cautioned, reaffirming his government’s commitment to protect linguistic minorities and uphold constitutional rights.