Will bring ordinance to have 60% Kannada on signboards in Karnataka: Siddaramaiah

mangaloretoday.com

Bengaluru, Dec 28, 2023: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said his government decided that businesses across the state should have 60 per cent space on signboards and nameplates in Kannada and directed shop owners to make the change by February 28, 2024. He said that an ordinance will be brought to ensure its implementation.

 

The development came in the wake of pro-Kannada organisations demanding Kannada language displays on signboards, nameplates and advertisements.

This comes as a reaffirmation of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)’s order last week which said the trade licences of businesses which do not comply with the 60 per cent Kannada rule on name boards would be cancelled.

Following the civic body’s order, pro-Kannada activists launched a campaign against business establishments in Bengaluru which did not adhere to the norms, and either tore down or sprayed paint on signboards which were not in Kannada.

Responding to the widespread damage and defacement, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said his government does not oppose peaceful protests but would not tolerate instances of people going against the law. He chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday where officials of the BBMP and Culture Department were also present.

“People have to follow rules and if someone ignores them, then they will face the consequences. This I am making clear to everyone. I appeal to all the organisations and the activists not to take the law into their own hands," news agency PTI quoted him as saying.

Siddaramaiah said amendments will be made to the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act which was passed during the previous BJP government. Section 17(6) of the Act mandates businesses to have half of their signboards in Kannada while the other half can be in any language.

The Congress leader said an ordinance will be issued to amend the Act to say the ratio of Kannada to other languages should be 60/40. He added that a similar circular was issued in 2018 when the Congress was in power in the state.

Everybody should follow the amendment and all private establishments should change their signboards by February 28, said the Karnataka Chief Minister.

"Until we implement the law, I request everyone to maintain law and order to maintain peace. In Karnataka, Kannada is the supreme language. It is the working language. There is no compromise there. Everyone must follow the law," added Siddaramaiah.

Won’t let pro-Kannada activists take law into their hands: DK Shivakumar

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said he supports the cause of the pro-Kannada activists but won’t accept them taking the law into their own hands.

He added, “It is the responsibility of all of us to protect our language. I have a lot of respect for pro-Kannada activists. But the government won’t tolerate it if they take the law into their hands.”

DK Shivakumar said the pro-Kannada activists are allowed to communicate their demands for the 60 per cent order but "there is a limit to it".

"This affects the reputation of Karnataka," he added. Shivakumar said he had spoken in favour of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike chief Narayana Gowda when a complaint was lodged against the activist. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike led the recent rampage on non-Kannada signboards in Bengaluru.

"I would like to tell Narayana Gowda that he can’t take the law into his hands. We are all Kannadigas and our government is also committed to its cause. The Chief Minister has sent out a very clear instruction to use Kannada in government documents. The pro-Kannada fighters have the right to protest peacefully but not violently,” said Shivakumar.

Asked about Narayana Gowda’s threat that he would teach a lesson to the Congress party in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, he said, “I won’t say that there was no support of pro-Kannada protesters in our victory. But we won’t give them a licence to do whatever they want. Businesses have come here and invested money, and they can’t be threatened like this.”

The Deputy Chief Minister said the state government is committed to protecting the interests of the businesses in Karnataka, but it is also imperative that they comply with the 60 per cent order. He added that the government will issue notices to businesses which do not comply with the directive.

Courtesy: India Today