'Strikes At The Heart Of Linguistic Freedom': Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Slams Kerala's 'Malayalam Mandate'

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed strong disapproval of the Kerala government’s recent legislative move to make Malayalam the compulsory first language in schools, including Kannada-medium institutions.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Siddaramaiah urged Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan to immediately withdraw the bill calling it a direct violation of the linguistic freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.

He highlighted that the policy will severely impact the Kannada-speaking population in the border district of Kasaragod, which is administratively part of Kerala. He, however, stressed that it remains “emotionally integrated with Karnataka”.

“The people there are deeply intertwined with Kannada language, literature, and culture,” Siddaramaiah

said. “They are no less ‘Kannadiga’ than those living within Karnataka, and it is our government’s duty to protect their interests.”

India’s unity rests on respecting every language and every citizen’s right to learn in their mother tongue.

The proposed Malayalam Language Bill–2025, by mandating compulsory Malayalam as the first language even in Kannada-medium schools, strikes at the heart of linguistic…

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) January 8, 2026

CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS

Siddaramaiah said the move suppresses the fundamental rights of linguistic minorities. He cited several constitutional safeguards to support his stance – articles 29 and 30 for granting citizens the right to conserve their distinct language, script, and culture; Article 350(A) ensuring instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage of education; and Article 350(B) for providing safeguards for linguistic minorities.

He said it is scientifically proven that children grasp subjects more effectively when taught in their mother tongue. Imposing a foreign language will not only hinder learning abilities but also lead to the gradual “suffocation and demise” of an independent language, he added.

In Kasargod, where generations have studied in Kannada and nearly 70 percent of students prefer the Kannada medium, this mandate is being seen as a major setback. While acknowledging Kerala’s right to promote Malayalam, the chief minister maintained that it should not come at the cost of another language. “India is a cradle of multilingualism and multiculturalism. Any attempt to disrupt this pluralistic atmosphere is dangerous,” he said.

He said if the Kerala government proceeds with the bill, it will face a united protest from Kannadigas with full support from the Karnataka government.