Bengaluru, 2 June

International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq was felicitated for her by the State government at the Vidhana Soudha for her achievements on Monday.

Speaking at the event, said that Kannada is the most accommodating of all languages.

She said, she is often asked by media outlets why there is intolerance towards other languages in Karnataka. “And I tell them, your understanding of Kannada is incorrect. There’s no language as tolerant as Kannada. It is a language that has given a platform to many others.”

Her comments come as Kamal Hassan’s production team approached the Karnataka High Court against the ban against his upcoming film ‘Thug Life’ in the State. The controversy stems from Haasan's recent remark suggesting that Kannada originated from Tamil.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday appealed for calm and patience amid the ongoing row.

Declining to comment on the actor's statement, he said he did not wish to escalate the issue.

"I don't know the issue so let me go to my records and then I will speak. I don't want to make this a political issue. We all are neighbours, we all have to work together, live together. Our water goes to Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu people come here. We are not enemies. We all are friends," he said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce President M Narasimhalu said, let Haasan go to court, but no theatres in the State will screen 'Thug Life'.

"We will also talk to our legal team… Let them go to court. We have not done anything against the law," Narasimhalu said.