New Delhi: Twitter banters over use of Hindi have become routine of sorts. Bollywood actor's Wednesday post calling Hindi "our mother tongue" and "our national language", in a tweet tagging Kannada actor Kiccha Sudeep, and the latter's response asserting "love and respect" for all languages saw netizens divided, triggering a language row on the micro-blogging site.
Joining the debate, former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah supported Sudeep and said every Indian should "respect linguistic diversity of our Country". he said Hindi "was never & will never be our National Language", and added that each language has its "own rich history for its people to be proud of".
Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai also commented on the issue Thursday, and stood by Sudeep. "What Kiccha Sudeep said was correct. A regional language is the most important as a state is formed on linguistic bases. Everyone should understand and respect what Sudeep has said," news agency ANI quoted the CM as saying.
Also read | 'Hindi Will Never Be Our National Language': Siddaramaiah Wades Into Ajay Devgn-Sudeep Banter
It all started after Sudeep said in a recent interview that Hindi is no more a national language. Responding to the Kannada superstar, Ajay Devgn took to Twitter and asked why his movies are being dubbed in Hindi if it's not the "national language".
In response, Sudeep posted a few tweets to put the issue to rest.
While Devgn's assertion found many takers, the Kannada actor also had people in his support.