BJP Karnataka State President Vijayendra Yediyurappa has launched a fierce rebuttal against actor Kamal Haasan, accusing him of insulting the Kannada language and hurting the sentiments of 6.5 crore Kannadigas. The backlash came after Haasan allegedly claimed that “Kannada has its roots in Tamil” during a recent event, sparking a fresh round of controversy in the politically and linguistically sensitive southern region.
In a strongly-worded post on X, Yediyurappa demanded an unconditional apology from Haasan, calling his remarks arrogant, uncultured, and disrespectful.
“One should love one’s mother tongue, but showing disrespect in its name is uncultured behaviour. Artists must show respect to all languages. Kamal Haasan, who has acted in several Indian languages including Kannada, has now insulted Kannada by dragging actor Shivarajkumar into a statement glorifying Tamil,” Yediyurappa wrote.
ಮಾತೃಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರೀತಿಸಬೇಕು, ಆದರೆ ಅದರ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ದುರಭಿಮಾನ ಮೆರೆಯುವುದು ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಹೀನ ನಡವಳಿಕೆಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಕಲಾವಿದರಿಗೆ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನೂ ಗೌರವಿಸುವ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ ಇರಬೇಕು. ಕನ್ನಡವೂ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಅನೇಕ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಟಿಸಿರುವ ನಟ @ikamalhaasan ತಮ್ಮ ತಮಿಳು ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು ವೈಭವಿಕರಿಸುವ ಮತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಟ… pic.twitter.com/PrfKX099lZ
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) May 27, 2025
The BJP MLA from Shikaripura went on to highlight the rich history and global respect for Kannada, calling it a 2,500-year-old language known for its cultural depth and literary legacy.
“Kannada has been a prominent language across the world for centuries. It is one of the most respected languages, and Kamal Haasan should not forget the generosity of the Kannada people who once supported his career,” he added.
He also accused Haasan, a veteran actor and politician, of consistently insulting Hinduism and stoking controversy over the years.
“For the past few years, Kamal Haasan has been continuously hurting religious sentiments and now he has hurt the linguistic pride of Kannadigas. He should stop sowing discord and apologise to the people of Karnataka.”
Yediyurappa strongly contested Haasan’s linguistic assertion, stating that Haasan is not a historian qualified to make claims about the origins of languages.
“The Kannada language, with over two and a half millennia of history, symbolizes prosperity and cultural harmony in India. Kannadigas are peace-loving but will never compromise when it comes to the pride of their land, language, or identity,” he declared.
The controversy has triggered widespread debate on linguistic identity and mutual respect among South Indian cultures, with public opinion sharply divided on social media. While Haasan is yet to issue a response, Yediyurappa’s statements have galvanized a strong defense of Kannada pride in Karnataka.