Siddaramaiah: Hindi Not National Language, Vows to Protect Kannada & Kannadigas' Rights

• Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah asserted Hindi is not India's national language, reaffirming his government's commitment to Kannada and Kannadigas' rights.
• Siddaramaiah highlighted Karnataka's significant economic contribution, paying ₹4.5 lakh crore in taxes annually but receiving only 14 paise back per rupee from the Centre.
• He stated Karnataka leads in per capita income, attributing it to state welfare programs, and emphasized Kannada's sovereignty, recalling the 1956 linguistic reorganization.
• The CM criticized BJP for not celebrating the 50th anniversary of Karnataka's renaming in 1973 and vowed no compromise on Kannada language, land, water, borders, and employment.
• Siddaramaiah pledged to continue advocating for Kannada, mentioning pending central clearances for Mahadayi and Krishna Phase III projects, and urged condemnation of the Centre's "stepmotherly attitude."

Why It Matters: Siddaramaiah firmly asserts Hindi is not the national language, pledging strong support for Kannada and state rights.