MANGALORE: In a meeting called to press for the inclusion of Tulu in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, the former Kannada Sahitya Parishad President Harikrishna Punaroor raised a demand for separate State for Tulunadu. But the attendees were cold towards it.
Mr. Punaroor alleged the State government had not been working for inclusion of Tulu in the Eighth Schedule, a demand pending since 2001. Nearly 1.5 crore people spoke Tulu and yet it was not in the Eight Schedule. Tulu was yet to be accepted as State’s official language.
The government was also addressing problems of Dakshina Kannada, such as those of endosulfan and the proposed Niddodi power project. People should press for a separate Tulu State.
Issues of district
Though not supporting Mr. Punaroor’s demand, former minister Amarnath Shetty said projects that are detrimental to the region were being forced on the people because they were not reacting to the issues.
The proposed diversion of Netravati and thermal power project at Niddodi would seriously harm the ecology of the region. People should be united in fighting against such projects. He regretted that few schools were teaching Tulu.
Disapproving demand for a separate State, District Kannada Sahitya Parishad president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura said the government cannot be blamed for every problem relating to Tulu. He will fight for inclusion of Tulu in the Eighth Schedule but not for separate statehood.
Rally
Following the meeting, it was decided to hold a rally on September 7 demanding acceptance of Tulu as an official language of the State and including it in the Eighth Schedule.
