Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said all schools in the state should teach Kannada, ANI reported. He was speaking at the 62nd Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations that were held at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

The chief minister added that every one who lives in the state is a Kannadiga, and they must learn the language. They must “make their children learn it too,” he said.

Clarifying that he is not against any language, Siddaramaiah said, “But if you don’t learn Kannada, it means you’re showing disrespect to the language.”

Historian and writer Ramachandra Guha, singer KJ Yesudas, writer Vaidehi and hockey player VR Raghunath are among 62 people who will be given the Rajyotsava awards for 2017 later on Wednesday.

Besides Karnataka, four other states – Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Chhattisgarh – are also celebrating their foundation days on Wednesday.