As language teachers across the State protest against the proposal to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an alternative to the third language in high schools from the current academic year, members cutting across party lines attempted to raise the issue in the Legislative Council on Tuesday.

While BJP member N. Ravikumar raised the issue, Congress members Puttanna and Balkees Banu also joined in. Acknowledging that he had received petitions from members on the issue, Chairman Saleem Ahmed refused to allow a discussion, stating that the session had been convened only to discuss the drought situation and the K. Kasturirangan report. He, however, promised to draw Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s attention to the matter.

Earlier, the Deshiya Bhasha Hitarakshana Vedike (Forum for the Protection of Indigenous Languages) had urged the State government to ensure that AI is taught as a separate subject rather than being introduced as a substitute for the third language.