Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar declines to comment on Kamal Haasan’s Kannada-Tamil row, says ‘we are not enemies, we are all friends’

NEW DELHI: Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Monday refrained from commenting on Kamal Haasan’s recent statement about the Kannada-Tamil language row and urged people not to politicise the issue.While talking to the reporters, Shiva kumar said,“Let's not make this a political issue. We are all neighbours. We all have to work together and live together. Our water goes to Tamil Nadu, and the people of Tamil Nadu come here. We are not enemies; we are all friends. I don't want to comment on it because I don't know the history of that issue."Earlier, CM Siddaramaiah also criticised Haasan, highlighting the rich heritage of the Kannada language. “Kannada has a long-standing history. Poor Kamal Haasan, he is unaware of it,” he said during a media interaction.The controversy started after Haasan reportedly stated during a promotional event in Chennai that “Kannada is born out of Tamil.” This comment triggered protests in Karnataka from the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and other Kannada organisations.On Friday, Haasan responded to the ongoing backlash while promoting his movie Thug Life in Chennai, reaffirming his belief in “law and democracy.” He said India is a “democratic country” and added that he won’t “apologise” if he is “not wrong.”Pro-Kannada groups have demanded a public apology, accusing Haasan of hurting Kannada sentiments. When faced with threats of a boycott against his film unless he apologised, Haasan reiterated his faith in “law” and “justice” in a “democratic” country.Following the protests, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) banned the release of Thug Life on Friday.