Ex-Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai on Bengaluru violence: 'We must respect Kannada but...'

While speaking in favour of Kannada, Mohandas Pai asserted that violence is not the solution.

Former CFO of Infosys Mohandas Pai has strongly condemned the violence that Bengaluru witnessed on Wednesday as pro-Kannada Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) activists vandalised more than 20 shops across different commercial areas in the city, smashing English signboards and billboards. The visuals now viral on social media sparked widespread criticism of the act.

"We must respect Kannada but no violence," Pai wrote on X. He also reached out to the former Police Commissioner of Bengaluru Bhaskar Rao, and said, "Yes,local language is important but why are you quiet about such violence? You were our CP before and used to protect us! The issue is the violence and lack of police protection, not language."

Yes local language is important but why are you quiet about such violence? You were our CP before and used to protect us!the issue is the violence and lack of police protection not language. We must respect Kannada but no violence @Nimmabhaskar22 https://t.co/CBaPGMxCs9

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— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) December 27, 2023

Later when the leader of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) Narayana Gowda and other activists were taken into preventive custody, Mohandas Pai praised the government for upholding the law. " Violence by anybody is unacceptable in any civilized society. Govt should enforce the law, make the violators compensate the victims of violence," he wrote.

Thanks to our Home Minister @DrParameshwara and Minister for Bengaluru @DKShivakumar for standing up for Bengaluru and Rule of law. Violence by anybody is unacceptable in any civilized society. Govt should enforce the law,make the violators compensate the victims of violence https://t.co/ozVmovjA4Y

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— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) December 28, 2023

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.

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.

Read more: Bengaluru shops to lose trading license if 60% signages not in Kannada by Feb-end