Bengaluru: Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Thursday expressed support for the tri-language policy as long as Kannada is given priority.

Speaking to reporters at a meeting with Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George on the sub-urban rail project, Gowda said that Bengaluru is not limited to Karnataka or India, but is well-known around the world.

“Foreigners in our city must be able to read, people from other States must be able to read the signs and Kannadigas must instantly recognise the language of the State,” he said.

Advocating a tri-language policy, Gowda said, “I made it very clear that Kannada must be given priority; it is our State language. Since Hindi is spoken by a majority of people in India, it must be there. An international language like English must also be used,” he told reporters.

However, George disagreed and said that his position is similar to that of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who is gathering information on the policies followed by other States before taking a stand.