Fri Dec 20 10:04:20 UTC 2024: ## Kannada Literary Festival President Condemns Hindi Imposition, Calls for Fiscal Federalism
**Mandya, Karnataka, December 20, 2024** – The president of the 87th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, Go. Ru. Channabasappa, delivered a scathing critique of the Union government’s policies during his presidential address in Mandya today. He accused the government of failing to uphold the principle of pluralism and neglecting the constitutional mandate of multilingualism.
Channabasappa highlighted the increasing imposition of Hindi in national-level examinations, banking, and postal services, at the expense of state languages like Kannada. He argued that this marginalization of Kannada extends to various Union government departments and institutions, contravening Article 345 of the Constitution, which recognizes Kannada as Karnataka’s official language. He urged the Karnataka government to actively counter this linguistic imposition at the national level.
The president further criticized the Union government’s handling of fiscal federalism, echoing Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s concerns about the state’s inequitable tax share. He called for a national discussion on the financial relationship between the Union and state governments, advocating for the establishment of a special commission comprising constitutional and financial experts.
Channabasappa also lamented the rise of religious intolerance, stating that religious institutions are being misused to sow division rather than promote unity. He praised the Karnataka government’s five guarantee schemes, describing them as crucial for the working class and a step towards equitable economic distribution.
Finally, he stressed the importance of leveraging technology to further the development of the Kannada language and highlighted the dire financial state of Kannada University in Hampi, urging the government to provide necessary funding to ensure its continued operation and research capabilities.
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