Kerala’s new language Bill is unconstitutional: Karnataka:

In yet another thorn in the Karnataka-Kerala relationship, the Karnataka government has taken objection to the Malayalam Bhasha Bill, 2025, that makes Malayalam the compulsory first language in all schools across Kerala.

• A delegation from Karnataka met Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and urged him to reject the Bill.
• Karnataka has said that the Bill is “unconstitutional” and against the interest of the Kannada-speaking linguistic minority in Kerala, especially those living in the border district of Kasaragod.
• A delegation from the Karnataka Border Area Development Authority, on behalf of the Karnataka government, met the Governor at Kasaragod recently and handed over a petition to reject the Bill.
• A similar Bill passed in 2017 had been rejected by the President.

“The Kerala Assembly recently has passed a Bill called Malayalam Bhasha Bill, 2025, and submitted for your assent, which is pending in your office. It is similar to the Bill of 2017,” the authority’s letter to the Governor pointed out.

• “We want Kasaragod, where more than 70% of the population is Kannada speaking, to be excluded from the purview of the Bill. As per Article 350 and Article 350A, it is the duty of the State government to protect rights of linguistic minorities. This Bill violates constitutional rights,” said authority secretary Prakash Mattihalli, who led the delegation.
• “Mr. Arlekar promised us that he would consider our plea,” he said.
• This comes close on the heels of Kogilu Layout demolition following which sparks flew between Karnataka and Kerala leaders, especially after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan dubbed the demolition “brutal normalisation of bulldozer raj”.
• Pointing out the provisions of the Bill, the Karnataka government has said, “Section 2(6) defines that the first language Malayalam should be taught as compulsory subject in Kerala schools up to Class 10 in all government and aided schools. In Kasaragod and other Kannada-speaking areas of Kerala, linguistic minority students are studying Kannada as their first language and another language as second language.”