BJP Karnataka State President Vijayendra Yediyurappa has strongly condemned actor Kamal Haasan for his reported comment suggesting that “Kannada has its roots in Tamil,” calling it an affront to the Kannada language and an insult to the pride of 6.5 crore Kannadigas.
In a fiery post on social media platform X, Yediyurappa demanded an unconditional apology, accusing Haasan of arrogance and ingratitude, particularly given his past association with Kannada cinema.
“One should love one’s mother tongue, but showing disrespect in its name is uncultured behaviour. Especially artists should have a culture of respecting every language,” said Yediyurappa. “It is the height of arrogance that an actor like Kamal Haasan, who has acted in many Indian languages including Kannada, has insulted Kannada by involving actor Shivarajkumar in glorifying Tamil.”
Yediyurappa further defended the rich historical and cultural legacy of Kannada, asserting it as one of the most respected languages not just in India but globally.
“Kannada has been a prominent language in many parts of the world for centuries. Kamal Haasan has forgotten the generosity of Kannada people who embraced him during his Kannada film career,” he said.
The BJP leader also accused Haasan of a pattern of controversial statements, including alleged attacks on Hinduism, which he said have consistently hurt religious sentiments.
“Kamal Haasan, who claims to be a unifier of South India, has repeatedly insulted Hinduism in recent years. Now, by attacking Kannada, he has wounded the self-respect of millions of Kannadigas.”
Yediyurappa also took aim at Haasan’s qualifications to make linguistic claims, saying: “Kamal Haasan is not a historian to determine linguistic ancestry. Kannada, with its over 2,500-year-old heritage, stands for harmony and prosperity in India. Kannadigas are not language haters but will never compromise on their self-respect.”
The controversy stems from Haasan’s alleged remarks at a recent event, which many interpreted as diminishing Kannada’s linguistic identity in favor of Tamil. The remarks have triggered a sharp backlash in Karnataka, with demands for a public retraction.
