Escalating the language row, ProKannada outfits on Wednesday held violent protests in several parts of Karnataka's capital Bengaluru including the Kempegowda International Airport. The outraged groups entered Bengaluru city from Sadahalli toll plaza, holding a massive rally in support of sixty per cent signboards and logos in Kannada. Later, police detained members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike after they went on a rampage in the city
In a video of the protest doing rounds on social media, a few men and women were pulling apart individual English letter signages of a popular chain of hotels at Sadahalli toll plaza while shouting slogans.
Meanwhile, following the incident, the security in the city has been tightened near the toll plaza with barricades being set up to prevent the rally from entering the main city area.
#WATCH | Bengaluru: Kannada Raksha Vedhike holds a protest demanding all businesses and enterprises in Karnataka to put nameplates in Kannada. pic.twitter.com/ZMX5s9iJd0
— ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2023
#WATCH | Police detained members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, protesting to deliver messages to owners of many malls, shops, commercial buildings, companies and factories, especially multinational companies to install Kannada sign boards and give more visibility to the Kannada… pic.twitter.com/tRjsPidLbB
— ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2023
Earlier, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said BBMP would suspend licenses of shops, hotels, and malls that do not comply with the 60 per cent Kannada rule on name boards. According to the order, all hotels, malls, and other shops must mandatorily use Kannada on their name boards, the city’s civic body ordered, adding that stringent action will be taken against those who do not comply.
It said commercial stores in the civic body's jurisdiction had till February 28 to comply, failing which they could face legal action, including suspension of business licences. The order was issued after BBMP Commissioner Tushar Girinath chaired a meeting regarding the usage of Kannada language on name boards of shops in Bengaluru.