‘This is Kannada land’: Bengaluru shop owner alleges ‘torture’ over English signboard amid fresh language row

According to the man, the sign did not meet the requirement that Kannada should take up at least 60 per cent of the display.

A fresh dispute over language has surfaced in Bengaluru’s Begur area, where a senior citizen and a businesswoman, got indulged in a heated confrontation over compliance with the BBMP's language policy for commercial signage.

A video clip of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows the elderly man confronting the woman, who own a shop in Begur area, about her signboard being mostly in English. According to the man, the sign did not meet the requirement that Kannada should take up at least 60 per cent of the display. He insisted that this rule was not being followed and began recording the signboard, stating that he would lodge a formal complaint.

"This is India, We are living here, you are nobody to tell me what I have to do"Honestly, I want them to do these more & more. Also, Taaataaa pic.twitter.com/knhHofOeLQ
Ice Candy (@IceCandyGopalaa) June 16, 2025

In response, the woman got upset and said she felt harassed. She recorded her own video and said, “This man is torturing me and telling me to change my name board. Are we not living in India? Who gave him the right to question me?”

The elderly man replied, “Yes, this is India, but this is also Karnataka, Kannada land. The law says that 60 per cent of the signboard must be in Kannada. I’m only asking for what is legally required.” After making his point, he quietly walked away, preventing the argument from getting worse.

As per the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development (Amendment) Act, 2024, all commercial, industrial, and public signboards in Karnataka must display at least 60 per cent of the text in Kannada. This text must be placed in the upper half of the signboard. The remaining 40 per cent can be in any language, including English.

According to the authorities, the law aims to protect and promote Kannada in public places, especially in a city like Bengaluru where people from many different states live and work, Hindustan Times reported.