Days after the city’s civic body served notices on commercial establishments to sport signages in Kannada prominently, members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedika Tuesday pulled down a few signboards in English in some areas of Bengaluru.
The pro-Kannada activists also warned shops to put up billboards in the local language immediately, news agency PTI reported.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said that the establishments will have to comply with the order before February 28.
“We have thought about those who are born and raised in Karnataka, those who have built their lives in the state as Kannadigas. In Karnataka, Kannada language gets the priority and it is the duty of everyone to follow the rules. It has been mandated that the commercial establishments must have 60 per cent of signage in Kannada. It has to be implemented before February 28. Let’s follow the rule and be proud Kannadigas,” the Chief Minister had tweeted.
Recently, BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath, who met pro-Kannada activists, said that they will ensure that all commercial establishments in Bengaluru will erect signages in Kannada before February 28. “There are 1,400 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads in Bengaluru and all the commercial establishments will be surveyed zone-wise. We will serve notices to those who don’t follow the signages in Kannada,” he had said.
He had added that he will also hold a meeting with zonal commissioners. According to BBMP regulations, 60 per cent of the writings on the boards must be in Kannada and remaining 40 per cent can be either in English and/or other languages.
Though the regulation has been there, the move came after pro-Kannada groups organised protests in Bengaluru on December 22 around Chickpet and other places.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 27-12-2023 at 1:08 IST
