BENGALURU: Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara, commenting on the proposed delimitation of Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies by the Centre, stated that population should not be the sole criterion for the exercise.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Monday, Parameshwara said the reason Karnataka is likely to get fewer Lok Sabha seats -- around 66 -- is due to population being used as the primary criterion. “North India has a higher population, and that is why we are getting fewer seats. It is our concern that this should not happen, ” he underlined.
Responding to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement on the alleged likely 'injustice' to Karnataka in the delimitation process, he said, “CM Siddaramaiah has urged that population should not be used as a criterion. In South India, we have effectively implemented family planning, which has reduced our population. This should not become a disadvantage. His statement is correct.”
On the controversy surrounding the state government’s decision not to make Hindi compulsory for passing Class 10 exams, and the protests by Kannada organisations, as well as the Governor’s intervention, Parameshwara said that opposition to Hindi is not new. “Even during my student days, we were made to raise slogans like ‘Down with Hindi’. This confusion has continued since then, ” he said.
He added that the issue needs resolution. “There has always been a demand that regional languages should get proper representation. We demand it for Kannada, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will demand it for Telugu. This has been an ongoing issue, especially in non-Hindi-speaking southern states. It would be good if this matter were resolved, ” he said.