Accord classical status to Kannada: Council Chief

Bangalore, Nov 21 (UNI) Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman B K Chandrashekar today urged the Prime Minister to accord a classical status to Kannada before the end of the golden jubilee year celebrations of the state's formation, which ends this month.

In a letter to Dr Manmohan Singh here today, he said that the people of Karnataka still had a hope that the Centre would extend the much-awaited classical status to their language before November 30, as a gift of the golden jubilee year of the state.

"It will be a big gift from the Centre if it announces the classical status to Kannada before the end of this month. It is unscientific not to give the classical status to Kannada along with Tamil," he said.

The delay in this regard had created an impression that the Centre was practicing a step-motherly approach towards Kannadigas and their culture, he said.

Prof Chandrashekar also quoted famous German historian Fr Heras of saying that Kannada belonged to Harappa and Mohenjodaro, the cradle of human civilisation.

UNI