Karnataka Objects To Keralas Proposed Malayalam Language Bill 2025

In his letter, Siddaramaiah said he was writing “with a sense of mutual respect, cooperation within the federal framework and constitutional responsibility,” values that he said have long guided relations between Karnataka and Kerala. “These two states are bound not just by geography but by deep cultural, social and human ties,” he noted.

The chief minister flagged concerns over provisions that would make Malayalam the compulsory first language even in Kannada medium schools. He said such a move runs contrary to India’s pluralistic traditions. “India’s civilisational strength has always rested on fearless plurality. Languages in our country have grown through coexistence and mutual respect, not through compulsion,” he wrote.

Referring to Kasaragod, Siddaramaiah described the district as “a living example” of linguistic harmony where Malayalam, Kannada, Tulu, Beary and other languages have coexisted for generations. He warned that enforcing a single language policy could have serious consequences. “Any policy that mandates a single linguistic pathway risks placing an unnecessary burden on children, weakening educational institutions run by linguistic minorities and destabilising long standing educational systems,” he said.