English signboards torn, stones pelted as KRV protests demanding Kannada on nameboards

BENGALURU: The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) organised a massive protest in Bengaluru, damaging several commercial establishments, and rally in other parts of the state, on Wednesday demanding that all businesses and enterprises in Karnataka should put up nameboards in Kannada in their shops to fulfill the state government obligation that 60 per cent of the nameplate should be in Kannada.

Activists tearing down a signboard of a restaurant.

The protest was held under the leadership of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike state president T A Narayana Gowda. The KRV activists vandalised many shop boards with English nameplates. They also broke flower pots outside the Mall of Asia near Hebbal, broke English signboards and sprayed black ink. The activists also threw stones at many commercial establishments with English nameboards and later courted arrest.

The glass facade of the Mugs of Glory cafe was damaged in stone-throwing.

Narayana Gowda said, “People from various states are doing business in Bengaluru, but they don’t put Kannada nameboards on their shops. They are putting up only English nameboards in front of their shops. If they want to stay back in Bengaluru, then they have to put nameboards in Kannada or else they have to move from Karnataka to other states”.

He further said that there is a Karnataka government law that 60 per cent of the nameboard should be in Kannada. “No one is following it properly, so today we are doing a massive awareness protest rally. If the police stop us today, our struggle will not stop. We will continue the rally every day till our demands are met,” he added.

He further alleged that Mall of Asia has not put a Kannada nameboard. “We told them to put a Kannada nameplate but Mall of Asia (Bangalore) did not bother and has not put a Kannada nameboard, so we will fight against this. Today, police are providing full protection to the Mall of Asia (Bengaluru), but tomorrow who will provide protection? Tomorrow again our activists will protest, till our demand is fulfilled”, he added.

The rally was held from Nada Prabhu Kempegowda International Airport Toll (Sadarahalli Gate) to Cubbon Park.

Earlier, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath had said that commercial establishments under the administrative body need to install 60 per cent Kannada language nameboards by February 28, failing which legal action will be initiated.

Addressing a meeting at Malleswaram IPP hall with the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike regarding the mandatory use of Kannada language in the nameplates of all types of commercial shops under the corporation, he said that a meeting will be held with all the zonal commissioners regarding the mandatory use of Kannada language on the nameboards and appropriate directions will be given.

“There are 1,400 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads in the city, and all the commercial shops on these roads will be surveyed zone-wise. After the survey, a notice will be given to the shops that do not use 60% Kannada language. After issuing the notice, they will be given time till February 28 to implement Kannada language nameplates and submit compliance to the respective zone commissioners”, Tushar Giri Nath had said. (ANI)