Bengaluru: A major controversy erupted in Karnataka after the Railway Department postponed a promotion examination following protests over the exclusion of Kannada as a medium.
The examination, scheduled for Tuesday, was meant for recruitment to 194 Goods Train Manager posts and 101 LDC (Limited Departmental Competitive Examination) posts in the Hubballi division. However, the South Western Railway had decided to conduct the test only in Hindi and English, triggering widespread outrage.
Members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike staged protests at multiple locations, including near KSR Bengaluru City Railway Station and railway offices in Hubballi and Bengaluru. Following the demonstrations, the Railway Department abruptly postponed the examination.
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Chief Minister Siddaramaiah strongly criticised the move, stating that Kannada-speaking employees had already raised concerns over the issue earlier. He said the last-minute cancellation reflected administrative failure and could have been avoided if the authorities had allowed the exam in Kannada from the beginning.
The Chief Minister also expressed disappointment with Union Minister V Somanna, stating that despite being from Karnataka, he failed to safeguard the interests of Kannadigas. He urged the minister to act decisively rather than make statements.
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the repeated exclusion of regional languages in central government examinations reflects a pattern of linguistic bias. He asserted that while Hindi as a language is not opposed, its imposition over Kannada will not be tolerated.
Calling for immediate intervention, he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct concerned departments to ensure that Kannada is included as a medium in such examinations. He also demanded that the postponed exam be conducted at the earliest, with an option for candidates to write in Kannada.
The incident has once again reignited the debate over language rights and regional representation in central recruitment processes, with growing calls for inclusive policies that respect India’s linguistic diversity.
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