Siddaramaiah (File – agencies)

NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday accused the Centre of neglecting Kannada and imposing Hindi, while calling upon people of the state to oppose those who are “anti-Kannada.”“The federal government is meting out step-motherly treatment to Karnataka,” Siddaramaiah said during his address on the occasion of the state foundation day (Rajyotsava day) in Bengaluru.He charged that the state provides Rs 4.5 lakh crore revenue to the Centre, but “it is denied its rightful share and is given a paltry amount in return.”Stating that injustice is being done to Kannada, the chief minister said, “There are continuous attempts to impose Hindi. Grants are given for the development of Hindi and Sanskrit while other languages of the country are being neglected.”“Injustice is being done to the classical language Kannada by denying adequate funds for its growth. We have to oppose all those who are anti-Kannada,” Siddaramaiah said.Underlining the need to take Kannada language and its culture to new heights, the chief minister said the neglect inflicted upon Kannada in education has caused many problems.“Children of the developed nations think, learn and dream in their mother tongue but here the situation is against it. English and Hindi are weakening the talent of our children,” he said.“Hence, there is a need to bring laws to introduce the mother tongue as the medium of instruction. I emphasise that the Centre should pay heed in this direction,” he added.