The Congress-led Karnataka government, under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has once again exposed its deep-rooted policy of Islamic appeasement by allocating ₹100 crore specifically for Urdu-medium schools while disguising the move as part of the general education budget. This blatant misrepresentation not only insults the intelligence of the public but also undermines the foundational identity of Karnataka — its Kannada language, culture, and people. While Siddaramaiah falsely claims that ₹34,438 crore has been set aside for Kannada education, the reality is that this figure encompasses the entire School Education and Literacy Department, including central schemes and allocations that benefit all language groups, including Urdu. It is nothing short of deception to claim this as exclusive funding for Kannada.
What makes this even more shameful is the direct and additional financial backing provided to Urdu institutions like the Maulana Azad Model Schools, which received ₹100 crore apart from the department’s main budget. On the other hand, Kannada promotion received a paltry ₹32 crore through the Kannada and Culture Department, and even less was spared for the academies of other native languages like Tulu, Kodava, Konkani, Byari, and Arebhashe — some receiving merely a few lakhs. This deliberate sidelining of Kannada and native tongues, while generously boosting Urdu, is nothing but a communal and divisive agenda masked under the false pretense of inclusivity.
This isn’t an isolated act — it is part of a larger pattern under the Congress regime in Karnataka, where the state machinery is being brazenly used to pander to vote-bank politics. From mandating Urdu proficiency for Anganwadi teacher appointments in Urdu-speaking areas to disproportionately funding Waqf-related institutions, the government has systematically prioritized one linguistic-religious group over the rest. This appeasement politics is a direct assault on Karnataka’s identity and must be called out for what it is — state-sponsored cultural discrimination under the guise of governance. Shame on the state leadership for putting political gains above Kannada pride and constitutional fairness.
The reality behind Siddaramaiah’s false claims: What is the Karnataka government trying to hide?
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah boldly claims that the Karnataka government has allocated ₹34,438 crore exclusively for Kannada language schools and development. But the truth is far from this grandiose claim. This entire amount is the total budget for the entire School Education and Literacy Department, covering all government and aided schools, pre-university colleges, stationery, printing, sports, libraries, and more. It is not a fund dedicated solely to Kannada language promotion.
In fact,
- ₹25,543.54 crore out of this massive budget is distributed as block grants to district administrations for various local needs, not specifically for Kannada.
- The capital expenditure for infrastructure development across primary and secondary schools, which benefits all schools regardless of language, is only around ₹1,106 crore.
- The ₹999.9 crore cited for school building infrastructure is part of the overall ₹34,438 crore budget — it is not additional funding for Kannada schools alone.
So, why did the government allocate an extra ₹100 crore specifically for the Maulana Azad Urdu school, over and above this enormous general education budget? If Kannada schools were truly the priority, why was such a significant additional grant given for Urdu-medium education?
The Kannada and Culture Department received only ₹274.8 crore, a fraction of the overall education budget. More alarmingly, out of this, only ₹32 crore was specifically allocated for Kannada language promotion, while other language academies—Tulu, Konkani, Kodava, Byari, and Arebhashe—were allocated a mere ₹10 crore in total. This amount, which barely supports these academies, pales in comparison to the preferential funding granted to the Urdu Academy, which also received an additional ₹2 crore in grants.
This stark disparity raises serious questions:
- If the ₹34,438 crore budget truly supports Kannada language development, why is there a need for separate, large grants for Urdu schools?
- Why are the Kannada and allied language academies severely underfunded compared to Urdu?
- Is this not a deliberate diversion of funds under the guise of ‘education,’ aimed at appeasing certain groups at the expense of Kannada and other native languages?
- If the government is genuinely committed to Kannada, Tulu, and Konkani, why are their academies starved of adequate funds?
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s attempts to dismiss these concerns as malicious lies and fake news cannot hide the uncomfortable facts. The people of Karnataka deserve transparency and accountability, not political rhetoric and obfuscation.
CM dismisses allegations as ‘lies’, but budget figures tell a different story
Is the government truly prioritizing Kannada and other native languages, or is it diverting public funds towards Urdu education while misleading the public with inflated numbers? If not, then what explains these glaring funding imbalances?
This is not just a question of budgets; it is about protecting the linguistic and cultural identity of Karnataka. The government must stop spreading misinformation and address the real concerns of Kannadigas. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has vehemently denied the BJP’s accusations that the Karnataka government favored Urdu over Kannada in its funding allocations, labeling these claims as malicious lies intended to stir communal discord.
In a series of tweets, Siddaramaiah accused the BJP in Karnataka of intentionally spreading false information aimed at damaging communal harmony. “BJP4Karnataka is spreading a malicious lie that our government allocated more funds to Urdu while neglecting Kannada. This is not only false but a deliberate effort to incite communal hatred. It is deeply shameful to see a national party stoop to internet trolling,” he said on X.
To counter the BJP’s claims, Siddaramaiah shared detailed budget figures. He stated that the government allocated Rs 34,438 crore for primary and secondary education and an additional Rs 4,150 crore for social welfare and other departments in the 2025-26 budget, all dedicated to Kannada-medium education. Additionally, Rs 999.3 crore has been earmarked for government school infrastructure, benefiting Kannada education.
As per Public TV, the Chief Minister emphasized, “Kannada is not just a language; it is our identity, pride, and mother tongue. Our government will never tolerate any insult towards Kannada or Karnataka.” He dismissed the BJP Karnataka’s claim that Kannada received only Rs 32 crore as a deliberate political distortion designed to mislead and provoke the public.
Siddaramaiah also criticized the BJP for equating language with religion, calling it “an insult to the language.” He highlighted the Karnataka government’s commitment to supporting all native languages. “Equating any language with a particular religion insults that language. Our government respects all native tongues of Karnataka — including Tulu, Kodava, Konkani, Arebhashe, and Byari — providing each with dedicated academies, an annual grant of Rs 80 lakh, and additional funding for cultural activities,” he added.
Siddaramaiah is no stranger to twisting facts even when hard evidence stares him in the face — and this incident is no different. Despite the Karnataka BJP laying out detailed budgetary documents exposing the truth, the Congress-led government continues to peddle half-truths and play the victim card. This isn’t just political mismanagement — it’s a direct insult to the Kannada language and Kannadiga identity.
The numbers don’t lie: while Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, and other native languages are starved for funds, selective appeasement is showered on Urdu — and that too, with additional grants beyond the general education budget. What else can this be called but shameless vote-bank politics? Siddaramaiah’s hollow claims and dramatic denials can’t cover up the betrayal his government has inflicted on Kannadigas.
It’s time people of Karnataka rise above rhetoric and see the truth for what it is. If Congress has any respect left for Karnataka, for Kannada, and for Kannadigas, it must stop treating the state’s own language and culture like second-class entities. What the Siddaramaiah government has done is not governance — it’s a disgrace. Let the people decide if they want more lies or a government that truly respects Kannada and Karnataka.
Author Vishnu has provided us a fact filled reportage based on hard facts that cannot be denied. Thanks.
The temerity of CM Siddaramaiah personally and his minions now ruling Karnataka in repeatedly indulging in blatant anti-Hindu acts and stoking radical Mohammadinism is shocking to all conscientious people, except to the majority of Hindus in Karnataka. Why are they acting in such a suicidal manner? I think Hindu organizations can help Hindus in Karnataka by being more pro-active in that region.