'It's Not England': How '60% Kannada' Rule United Cong, BJP as Shops Change Boards Amid Damages

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), a pro-Kannada activist group, is up in arms over the 60 per cent Kannada on signboard rule. Several members of the group have been arrested after their protest turned violent with protesters vandalising name boards of various shops.

Three FIRs were registered against KRV head Narayana Gowda, who was subsequently sent to judicial custody for 14 days. The complainants alleged that Gowda along with his outfit blocked highways and allegedly attacked police personnel during the protest held in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

One of the FIRs, naming 15 pro-Kannada activists, was filed at Bengaluru’s Cubbon Park police Station after they vandalised name boards on Lavelle road.

On Thursday, the outfit released a video message demanding release of Gowda and other pro-Kannada activists, threatening massive stir in Bengaluru if their demand isn’t met.

“We are issuing a warning. The innocent Kannada activists, who were arrested last night and sent to jail, must be released immediately. If the Kannada activists are not released, we are warning that we will start a massive stir in the whole of Bengaluru,” Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activist Praveen Shetty said.

Condemning the arrest of Gowda and others, a group of pro-Kannada activists also staged a protest in Hassan district, blocking NH 75.

No Objection to Protest, Says Congress Government

• Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah held a high-level meeting on the issue on Thursday and said, “We have no objection to protest by pro-Kannada activists. There is no issue at all with a fair demonstration, but those who take law and order in their hands need to be dealt sternly.”

“I will hold a meeting with the police and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials regarding the Kannada nameboard rule implementation. We have no objection to other languages but in Karnataka there should be Kannada language on signages,” the CM added.

Siddaramaiah further said, “The previous government has made a law, ‘Kannada Basha Samagra Abhivruddhi Adhiniyama’. This law was formed on March 10, 2023, and was passed in both Houses. As per Section 17, Sub section 6 of the law, the signages of commercial establishments, industrial, hospitals, hotels, etc must have 50% Kannada language on it.”

• Deputy CM DK Shivakumar reiterated Siddaramaiah’s view. “In democracy everyone can protest. But we can’t tolerate taking law in one’s hands. I’m very disturbed with the vandalism. Protesters can ask the shop owners to implement the rule, we don’t object to it. But they can’t take law in their hands. We have to protect every citizen. They can’t vandalise the shops.”

Shivakumar further urged the shopkeepers to obey the order of the government and place 60% boards in Kannada. “We are here to give you protection. We are bound to protect you, we will do it,” he added.

• Shivaraj Tangadagi, minister for Kannada and culture, said on incidents of vandalism: “Such incidents must not take place. I request pro-Kannada organisations that the government is with you and the government is thinking about your demands, I request them not to vandalise private or government properties.”

“There’s a plan to set up a task force to ensure the implementation of the rule. We are thinking about this and we will bring it to the notice of the CM and take a decision,” Tangadagi added.

• Karnataka home minister G Parmeshwar came down heavily on pro-Kannada activists for indulging in vandalism. “Bangalore has got its own image, what message are we giving to those people who come from outside to the state? Informing BBMP and govt was enough, why take law and order into own hands?” he asked.

BJP Supports Pro-Kannada Activists

• Supporting the activists, senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa asserted that the protesters had not done anything illegal to be arrested and must be released immediately.

“The demand of Pro-Kannada organisations that those doing business in Karnataka must have boards in Kannada is correct, but why isn’t the Karnataka government implementing this rule? The arrest of Narayana Gowda is wrong and he must be released. I urge the chief minister to release him, he has not done anything illegal,” Eshwarappa added.

• Union minister and Karnataka MP Pralhad Joshi also backed the demand of 60% Kannada and asked why the establishments don’t want Kannada signage. “Everybody should be able to read the signs and not everyone can read English. What is the harm in writing in Kannada as well as in English or another language, like Hindi? This is not England,” he said.

Reactions from Leading People in Business

• Biocon executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw alleged that the protesters are “professional paid vandals”.

• RK Misra, co-chairman of ASSOCHAM-Karnataka and co-founder of Yulu, said, “International press has also covered the violence. It affects not just Bangalore’s image but also whole of India’s. It was an attempt to divide people on the issue of language, it had political backing.” He added, “Everybody should learn the local language. It helps them.”

In Fear, Traders Begin Changing Signboards

Traders associations and business bodies like FKCCI (Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry) have also backed Kannada groups.

Many shops have started changing boards. Some have put up temporary boards to follow the law till permanent sign boards are ready.

What is 60% Kannada Rule?

According to BBMP’s guideline, all commercial establishments will have to put up 60% signage in Kannada, which means more than half of a signboard should read in Kannada.

A deadline of February 28 has been given, failing which the shops will be closed and their trade licenses cancelled.

(With inputs from Akshara DM, Reethu M and Harish Upadhya in Bengaluru)