City-wide protests against non-Kannada signboards for commercial establishments organised by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) turned into vandalism targeting English signboards on Wednesday (Dec. 27).
At least 50 complaints of vandalism have been lodged with the city police from across the city. Though it was most intense on the International Airport Road, reports of retail outlets being vandalised came in from the Central Business District, K.R. Puram, Rajajinagar, Chickpet, and Mysuru Road.
Over 900 KRV activists were detained. FIRs began to be registered on Wednesday night after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he had instructed police officials to take suitable action against those who had taken the law into their hands. At least seven FIRs were registered against the activists when last checked on Wednesday night.
A few days ago, Mr. Siddaramaiah expressed his support for the implementation of the rule that signboards should have at least 60% in Kannada. After a delegation of KRV met Chief Civic Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike set a deadline of February 28 for the implementation of the rule and took up a survey.
However, T.A. Narayana Gowda, president, KRV, led a protest march on Wednesday from Sadahalli Gate on International Airport Road, demanding immediate implementation of the Kannada signboard rule.
Police detained him at Sadahalli Gate, which made the procession turn violent. Activists, who were in thousands, overpowered the police at the spot and blocked the way for the vehicle carrying Mr. Gowda for several kilometres. Activists took to vandalising signboards of commercial establishments on either side of the road as police struggled to rein in the crowds.
Also read: ‘Comply with Kannada signboard rules by Feb. 28’
One of the focal points of the protest was the newly opened Phoenix Mall of Asia. “As part of our three-month-old drive, we went to the mall and requested them to use Kannada. But the mall management served us a legal notice questioning who we were to question them. They refused to include Kannada in signboards, which provoked the protests on December 27,” said a senior KRV activist.
Many activists were seen on open jeeps or tempo travellers in many parts of the city warning shopkeepers to change the signboards and, in many instances vandalising non-Kannada signboards.
“Such struggle neccessary”
“We are not opposed to anyone doing their business in Bengaluru. But this is Karnataka, and Kannada needs to be given primacy. We are only asking for the law on signboards to be followed. Some may have got police protection today, but the police would not be around every day,” Mr. Gowda said, issuing veiled threats.
However, later in the day, he issued a statement describing the campaign as a success and saying it was “non-violent” as activists targeted only signboards, not shops and people. Apologising for the inconvenience caused, he said, “A massive struggle was necessary to save Kannada in Bengaluru”. He said KRV would continue the campaign until the signboards are in Kannada.
Mr. Gowda was detained at Yelahanka Police Training School when last checked on Wednesday night, and KRV activists continued their protest demanding his release.
Police receive flak
The city police have come under criticism on social media, where many users alleged that the police were “mute spectators” to the vandalism on the city’s streets.
“How can the police not stop such violence and vandalism? We need confidence-boosting measures from the government,” wrote T.V. Mohandas Pai on X (formerly called Twitter). “Vandalism, violence, destruction of property and intimidation is not acceptable. Police were made mute spectators,” wrote Bhaskar Rao, former city police commissioner and a BJP leader now.
