Language war erupts in Karnataka; slogans against Ajay Devgn for calling Hindi India’s national language

Members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, a pro-Kannada group, have come out in protest against Ajay Devgn’s statement that Hindi is India’s national language. They have raised slogans against Devgan and said, “It is unfair to call Hindi the national language of India.”

Pro-Kannada activists on Thursday protested against Ajay Devgn’s remarks that “Hindi is, was and will always be India’s national language.” Ajay Devgn’s statement was in response to Kannada actor Kiccha Sudeep’s statement that Hindi was longer the national language.

Miffed by Ajay Devgn’s remarks, members of the pro-Kannada group, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, raised slogans and began protesting against the actor for his controversial statement. They said, “It is unfair to call Hindi the national language of India.”

The language war erupted when South star Kiccha Sudeep, in an exclusive interview with KarnatakaTak, said that “Hindi is no longer a national language.”

Ajay Devgn hit back at Kiccha Sudeep on Twitter in Hindi and said, "Kiccha Sudeep, my brother, according to you, if Hindi is not our national language then why do you release your native language [mother tongue] films by dubbing them in Hindi? Hindi was, is and always will be our mother tongue and national language. Jan Gan Man."

Kannada actor Kiccha Sudeep responded to Ajay Devgan’s comments by tweeting, “Hello @ajaydevgn sir.. the context to why i said tat line is entirely different to the way I guess it has reached you. Probably wil emphasis on why the statement was made when I see you in person. It wasn't to hurt,Provoke or to start any debate. Why would I sir (sic)."

Karnataka Chief Minister, Basavraj Bommai, has entered this language war and defended actor Kiccha Sudeep’s statements.

He said, “What Sudeep said is indeed right. Our states were formed because of languages. Regional languages have been given importance. Everyone should respect that.”