Pro-Kannada groups on Wednesday vandalised more than 8 dozen 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.
Several videos of their rampage on Bengaluru streets, in front of Phoenix Mall of Asia, went viral. Karnataka Rakshana Vedika president TN Narayan Gowda said his organisation organised an awareness protest rally about the 60% Kannada on signboard rule which is a government law. Some social media accounts claimed nameplates which had Kannada apart from English were also vandalised.
What is the 60% Kannada rule?
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has come up with a rule that all commercial establishments will have to put up 60% signage in Kannada. More than half of a signboard should read in Kannada, according to this guideline. A deadline of February 28 has been given, falling which the shops will be closed and their trade licenses cancelled.
The Karnataka government has also decided to form a law for the mandatory adoption of the 60% Kannada nameplate rule. "We will set up a task force that will oversee the implementation of the Kannada name board," said Shivraj Tangadagi, Minister for Kannada and Culture.
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