In yet another thorn in the Karnataka-Kerala relationship, the Karnataka government has taken objection to the Malayalam Bhasha Bill, 2025, and urged Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to reject it. Karnataka has termed the Bill as “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 on Wednesday and handed over a petition to reject the Bill.
The Bill makes Malayalam the compulsory first language in all schools across Kerala. A similar Bill passed in 2017 had been rejected by the President.
Pending for approval
“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 said.
