Pro-Kannada groups on Wednesday vandalised more than 20 shops across different commercial areas in Bengaluru, smashing English signboards and billboards. The pro-Kannada activists also warned shops to put up billboards in the local language immediately, news agency PTI reported.
More than 1,000 people organised by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) activists had gathered on Airport Road to protest the absence of Kannada signs in commercial establishments. The situation, however, became disruptive when the protesters tried to enter a hotel which led to an altercation with the staff and then the destruction of property, Times Now reported.
The visuals of the violence, now viral on social media, also show a few police officers, outnumbered, but still trying to stop the activists from destroying property.
This comes days after the city’s civic body served notices to commercial establishments that their trade licenses may get cancelled if 60 percent of their signboards are not in Kannada by the end of February. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) added that all hotels, malls, and other shops must mandatorily use Kannada on their name boards, and stringent action would be taken against those who do not comply.
Some of the shops that faced the brunt of the pro-Kannada activists include branches of House of Masaba, McDonald's Starbucks, Third Wave Coffee, Forest Essentials, and Theobroma. The ensuing violence prompted the store owners to shut shop temporarily.
Speaking to reporters, KRV president Narayana Gowda said, "We are not saying Gujaratis, Sindhis or Marwadiscan't work here, but the useage of our mother tongue to represent that work is essential."
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had also voiced his support in favour of Kannada billboards and signs on commercial establishments in Bengaluru.
“We have thought about those who are born and raised in Karnataka, those who have built their lives in the state as Kannadigas. In Karnataka, the Kannada language gets priority and everyone has to follow the rules. It has been mandated that commercial establishments must have 60 percent of signage in Kannada. It has to be implemented before February 28. Let’s follow the rule and be proud Kannadigas,” he had tweeted.
Commenting on this, BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath, who met pro-Kannada activists recently, added that they would ensure that all commercial establishments in Bengaluru carry signs in Kannada before February 28.
“There are 1,400 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads in Bengaluru and all the commercial establishments will be surveyed zone-wise. We will serve notices to those who don’t follow the signages in Kannada,” he had said.
Read more: Bengaluru shops to lose trading license if 60% signages not in Kannada by Feb-end
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