India, Sept. 2 -- President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said she would make efforts to learn Kannada, while emphasising the importance of preserving India's diverse languages, cultures, and traditions.

"I would like to tell the honourable chief minister that although Kannada is not my mother tongue, I deeply cherish all the languages, cultures, and traditions of my country. I hold great respect and regard for each of them," Murmu said while addressing the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) in Mysuru.

Her remarks came in response to chief minister Siddaramaiah, who had spoken in Kannada and asked dignitaries on the dais if they understood the language, news agency PTI reported.

Murmu called...