Responding to actor-turned politician, Kamal Haasan's statement on Kannada, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "He is unaware of the history of Kannada." CM Siddaramaiah's remark comes a day after Makkal Needhi Maiam chief said "Kannada was born out of the Tamil language."
"Kannada has a long-standing history. Poor Kamal Haasan, he is unaware of it," said Siddaramaiah. Haasan had made the remark at an event in Chennai weeks before the release of his film Thug Life, inviting backlash from pro-Kannada groups. Kannada actor Shivarajkumar was also present at the event.
Haasan began his speech with a Tamil phrase that translates to "my life and my family is the Tamil language". "This is my family in that place. That's why he (Shivarajkumar) has come here. That's why I began my speech by saying life, relationship, and Tamil. Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included (part of it)," he had said.
Demanding an apology from Mr Haasan,BJP state unit chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa said that it reflected an "uncultured behaviour". Calling it the "height of arrogance", he said that artists must be "cultured" enough to respect every language.
"He is not a historian to conclude which language gave birth to which language", added the BJP leader.
