India, June 3 -- Tensions flared across Karnataka on Monday as pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj issued a stern warning of a statewide bandh in protest against Tamil actor Kamal Haasan's controversial remarks on the Kannada language. The actor is under fire for allegedly stating that "Kannada was born out of Tamil," a comment that has drawn strong backlash from Kannada groups and political circles alike.

Leading a protest in Mysuru on June 2, Nagaraj lashed out at Haasan and called his statement a direct insult to the Kannada language and its rich heritage. "This is not just an affront to the language, but to the pride and identity of Kannadigas. We will not take it lying down," he said. He added that thousands of Kannada activists acro...