New Delhi, July 7 : A Karnataka Congress delegation led by its President Mallikarjun Kharge today called on Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni and discussed matters relating to the grant of classical language status to Kannada.

Kharge urged the Centre to expedite the matter relating to grant of classical language status to Kannada.

Soni said that a committee of linguistic experts is examining the issue of granting classical language status to Kannada and Telugu.

“The Experts Committee has discussed the matter in its meeting held in June 2008 and efforts are being made to arrive at a consensus on the issue,” she said.

She expressed the hope that the committee of experts will soon reach a decision on the subject and once such a decision is reached, it will be forwarded to the Government for further necessary action.

The next meeting of the Expert Committee is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on August 8, 2008. (ANI)