Hariprasad backs Tulu’s Eighth Schedule recognition, welcomes State’s official language status

Bengaluru, Sept 19: KPCC president B K Hariprasad on Saturday welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to grant Tulu the status of a second additional official language in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, and urged the Centre to take the next step by including Tulu in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Describing the decision taken at the Cabinet meeting in Dakshina Kannada as a major recognition of Tulu Nadu’s linguistic and cultural identity, Hariprasad said official recognition should now be followed by constitutional status for the language.

“The recognition is not merely for a language but an honour for the language, literature, culture, traditions and identity of Tulu Nadu,” he said in a statement.

Hariprasad, who said Tulu is his mother tongue, recalled his efforts in the Rajya Sabha to secure constitutional recognition for Tulu. He said he had repeatedly raised the issue in the Upper House and had introduced a private member’s Bill seeking the inclusion of Tulu and Kodava in the Eighth Schedule.

“The State government has fulfilled its responsibility by granting administrative recognition to Tulu. Now, it is imperative that the Centre responds to the decades-old demand,” he said, urging the Union government to include Tulu and Kodava in the Eighth Schedule.

Hariprasad also welcomed the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru aimed at accelerating development in the coastal region. He particularly welcomed the proposed separate tourism policy for the Karavali-Malnad region and measures concerning infrastructure, fisheries, health and education.

He said the initiatives could help unlock the economic and tourism potential of the region.

The KPCC president also welcomed Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s decision to approve 6.51 acres of land at Navoor in Bantwal taluk for the Shivagiri branch mutt.

Recalling that the land allocation had been promised by then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the Guru-Gandhi Dialogue Centenary programme held in Mangaluru in December, Hariprasad said the decision would help further propagate the message of equality and social justice associated with Sree Narayana Guru.

He thanked the State government for approving the land allocation.