Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, Nov 1: Tulunadu Rakshana Vedike celebrated ‘Black Day’ in contrast to the celebration of ‘Kannada Rajyotsava’ on Tuesday at Clock Tower, here. District president of Tulunadu Rakshana Vedike, Aikalabava Chittaranjandas Shetty, adddressing media persons said, "This 'black day' as a contrast to Kannada Rajyotsava is for the survival of Tulunadu. Tulu language is also one of the languages among five Dravidian languages. The other four languages have a separate state. Tulu is the only language which had been neglected during the division of the states on the basis of language." During the program, he ordered the central government to include Tulu language in the eighth section of the constitution.

Founder president of Tulunadu Rakshana Vedike, Yogeesh Shetty Jeppu said that the people residing in Tulunadu comprising of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts were known for their gentle and compromising nature. After independence, when linguistic states were formed, they gladly accepted the supremacy of Kannada and Karnataka and integrated them with the state in a peaceful manner. They also worked for the development of Kannada language and literature. The representatives of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada are betraying their motherland. The government is trying to make Tulunadu a barren land by introducing projects like the Netravathi diversion project.
In his speech, he quoted unemployment of youth in the coastal region as well as change from Tulu names of several cities to Kannada. He concluded his speech by saying, "The government refers to achievers from Tulunadu as Kannadigas and criminals from the coastal region as Karavali region habitants.

Member of Tulunadu Rakshana Vedike, Yashoda also demanded that the central government include Tulu language to eighth section of the constitution and for a separate state for Tulunadu.

District convener of Tulunada Rakshana Vedike Ramesh Pujari, Azharuddin, Mathak Ali, Surendra Nittur, Junaid, Subhash Soodan, Anand Amin, Harish Kumar Shetty, Hamid Hassan, Rajesh Kuttar and many others were present at the programme.