Give classical status to Kannada: BSY to Centre

Bangalore, Oct 20: The BJP government in Karnataka on Monday, Oct 20 gave a three-day 'ultimatum' to the Centre to meet the demands of the state which include according classical status to Kannada language.

Speaking to reporters here, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Monday, Oct 20 said if the centre continued to postpone its decision to accord classical status to Kannada and special status to backward Hyderabad-Karnataka region, all the Legislators and members of Parliament belonging to the state would stage a dharna at Rajghat in Delhi. The Centre was neglecting the State in several aspects and its adamant attitude in not according the classical status to the Kannada would not be tolerated anymore, he warned.

"If the Centre fails to come out with suitable orders to fulfill the above two demands, we will be left with no option but to stage a dharna at Rajghat to draw the Center's attention," he added.

He said that if the demands were not met within three days, he would lead a delegation of all State Legislators and MPs to Delhi. "First we will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and if we he fails to do justice, we will stage a dharna at Rajghat till our demands are met," he said.

Mr Yeddyurappa said he would be writing a letter to the Prime Minister seeking appointment to meet all the Legislators and MPs.

"The Prime Minister's should meet the full delegation and we will not agree if he (the Prime Minister) gives appointment to only a few," he added.

Replying to a question, he said he would try my best to take all the Legislators, irrespective of their party affiliation since the State's interest was involved.

He alleged that since beginning the UPA government was showing step motherly attitude towards Karnataka. It as not responding properly to the memorandums submitted by the state and ignored its just demands.

"We can no more tolerate the Center's apathy towards Karnataka. We will fight for justice," he added.

UNI