'Recognise Kannada as classical language'

Mumbai, Dec 3: The All India Kannada Literary and Cultural Conference, which concluded here today, urged the Central government to clear all the pending projects in Karnataka and Maharashtra and recognise Kannada as a classical language.

The two-day conference, organised by a Delhi-based Kannada monthly publication 'Dehali Kannadiga', also demanded that the Union government should introduce a passenger ship service between Mumbai and Mangalore, arrange a Parliament session in Bangalore once in two years to give constitutional recognition for Kodava and Tulu languages of Karnataka, said a release.

M B Samaga, convenor of the Conference, said the meet was attended by 1,000 delegates including writers, artists, professors, journalists and representatives of Kannada associations from all over the country.

The relase said the Conference urged the Maharashtra government to instal a statute of Kitturu Rani Channamma in Mumbai. It has also suggested that some roads and parks in the metropolis be named after great personalities of Karnataka, to build Maharashtra Cultural Museum at Bangalore and to start a Kannada Cultural Academy in Mumbai.

The Conference was presided by Justice Dr Shivaraj V Patil, Member, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and former judge of the Supreme Court of India, the release added.

UNI