Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Sunday promised Kannadigas of taking a decision to make it mandatory for all employers, who are operating in Karnataka, to earmark a certain percentage of jobs for Kannadigas.
He made this promise while responding to resolutions passed by a Kannada workers' convention organised by the Kannada Development Authority here that included urging the Government to enact legislation to make it mandatory for all employers in Karnataka to reserve a certain percentage of jobs for Kannadigas.
“Trust me, I will certainly take a tough decision,” the Chief Minister told the audience.
He also assured them of taking up another resolution of bringing pressure on the Union Government to frame a national employment policy to ensure that only local people in any State get priority in employment in Central establishments operating in that State.
He expressed concern over Kannada slowly losing its prominence in Bangalore and asked all elected members to strive for ensuring primacy to Kannada in all the areas of Karnataka, especially Bangalore. “All the elected members must consider themselves as representatives of Kannada and work for its development,” he said.
The other resolutions adopted at the convention included revising the Sarojini Mahishi report to suit today's requirements, bringing pressure on the Union Government to conduct all qualifying examinations for jobs in various Central sectors, including the Railways, in Kannada.
The convention also demanded that all big corporate houses should allow their employees to set up Kannada associations for cultural purposes.
Kannada Development Authority president “Mukhyamantri” Chandru alleged that several big companies were not even allowing formation of such Kannada organisations.
Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje expressed concern that at times it was so embarrassing for politicians that their speeches in Kannada had to be translated into other languages while addressing gatherings in different areas of Bangalore itself.
Expressing concern over Kannada not getting due importance in Bangalore, Rajya Sabha MP Ayanur Manjunath remarked that “Bangalore is only a capital for Karnataka, but not for Kannadigas. There is a need to declare another city as the cultural capital of the State.”
He suggested in a lighter vein that Shimoga, his native place, could be declared as cultural city as prominent personalities from Kannada literary world hailed from Shimoga district.
He alleged that several legislators from Bangalore had made it a habit to interact in Telugu in the lounges in the Legislature.
If the elected members themselves do not have commitment to protecting Kannada, who else would do it, he wondered.
He also alleged that several heroes and artistes from the Kannada film world could not speak the language properly.
Kannada and Culture Minister Govind M. Karjol, Labour Minister B.N. Bache Gowda and Folklore Academy Chairman Go. Ru. Channabasappa spoke.
