K'taka CM Siddaramaiah reasserts signboards in state should use Kannada but warns against vandalism

BENGALURU: On Thursday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reasserted that signboards in the state should display information in Kannada while also speaking out against the incidents of vandalism that have broken out during the course of the Kannada language row. Specifically, the CM's warning against those taking the law into their hands follows large-scale incidents of vandalism in the state on Wednesday that were carried out by the pro-Kannada outfit Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (TA Narayana Gowda faction) that targeted any business establishments that did not display Kannada signboards. 

In relation to this breakout of violence, a magistrate court in Bengaluru, on Thursday, sent over 53 Kannada activists, including TA Narayana Gowda, to a 14-day judicial custody until January 10. The activists had been arrested and housed in Parappana Agrahara Central Jail. 

The allegations against the activists include assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty, wrongful restraint, mischief, causing danger, obstruction or injury to any person and disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant. 

According to a report by PTI, the authorities also took more than 1,000 people into preventive custody.  

Commenting on the matter, CM Siddaramaiah said that he had called a meeting of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and police officials alongside the home minister to discuss the implementation of the rules regarding the display of Kannada on signboards, insisting that “We are not opposed to other languages, but Kannada should be prominent.”

The CM also reacted to a question by the media regarding assertions by some Kannada activists that the government was taking action against those fighting for the Kannada cause and that they would teach Congress ‘a lesson’ in Lok Sabha polls. "We have not stopped them from protesting, but we have taken action against those who have taken the law into their hands... Election thing, let's see when it comes; the government is here to maintain law and order."

"Investors have come here from different parts of the world. People are living here to make their livelihood. They should not be threatened," he added.