A dispute has arisen over the Malayalam Language Bill, 2025, leading to a political and inter-state controversy. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has refuted claims of linguistic imposition, emphasizing the bill’s inclusive nature and equality-driven development model. The legislation includes provisions to protect the rights of linguistic minorities, especially Kannada- and Tamil-speaking communities, with safeguards like the freedom to use mother tongues in official communication.
The Bill ensures that no language is imposed and upholds linguistic freedom, allowing linguistic minorities in designated areas to use their native languages for official purposes. Students not fluent in Malayalam can opt for other languages under the National Education Curriculum, exempting them from Malayalam exams at certain academic levels. The policy aligns with constitutional principles and the Official Languages Act, 1963, according to Vijayan.
Responding to criticism from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Kerala’s Local Self Government Minister M.B. Rajesh defended the Bill’s unanimous passage in the state assembly. Rajesh accused Siddaramaiah of political bias and urged him to retract his comments, which were deemed misleading and hostile towards Kerala. Siddaramaiah had raised concerns about the impact of enforcing a different first language on students’ academic performance, emphasizing the importance of identity and dignity for linguistic minorities.
