Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, the BJP's highest southern leader, today said a firm "no" to party chief Amit Shah's push to popularise Hindi as a common language across the nation, reviving decades of uniformity versus diversity. Traditionally, the southern states have resisted Hindi's exclusive use as a cultural imposition by northern Indians. The opposition Congress and the Left have entered the fray this time as well.

All official languages in our country are equal. However, as far as Karnataka is concerned, #Kannada is the principal language. We will never compromise its importance and are committed to promote Kannada and our state's culture. Yediyurappa said in a tweet.