Kannada Row LIVE: Signboards torn, hotels vandalised in Bengaluru; Situation tense

Pro-Kannada protest in Bengaluru: Several pro-Kannada groups including Kannada Raksha Vedhike took to the streets on Wednesday demanding that the rule be implemented with immediate effect where Kannada name boards for business establishments are installed. Protesters wearing red and yellow scarfs have vandalised hotels and torn English signage despite some police officers stopping them. The protest comes nearly 48 hours after the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Bengaluru civic body issued a directive and gave a deadline of 15 days for business establishments to get their name boards printed by 60% in Kannada and the remaining in English.

"Legal action will be taken against shops that do not install Kannada nameplates by February 28. Accordingly, shopfronts that do not use the Kannada language on nameplates will be suspended as per the law and then their licence will be cancelled," BBMP commissioner Tushar Girinath had said.

 For the unversed, the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government has ordered that by Feb 28, 60% of the name board should be in Kannada.
 

Karnataka Language Row | Massive protest near Kempegowda airport

• Protestors from Kannada Raksha Vedhike were detained by Police.
• Massive traffic jam on Bengaluru Kempegowda international airport road.
• Mega showdown by pro-Kannada groups as one of the members takes down the English signboard. 

• Stone pelted, hotels and property vandalized by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike at Sadalli gate near Kempegowda International Airport. The group is demanding that the rule be implemented with immediate effect where Kannada name boards for business establishments are installed.
• "I am terrified... If people are coming from outside how they will understand Kannada? It is a total failure of law and order, the state government is responsible..." a visitor told Republic. 
• People associated with Karnataka Rakshana Vedike protesting at Sadalli gate near Kempegowda International Airport
• Massive police deployment as KRV workers may attempt to lay siege to the airport
• Hotel vandalised by pro-Kannada activists
• Name boards broken

All you need to know about language row 

The language issue has once again taken centre stage, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah emphasising that "everyone residing in this state must learn to speak Kannada." Asserting that "we are all Kannadigas," he highlighted the historical presence of people speaking various languages in Karnataka since its unification. He had also made a pitch for holding competitive exams for central government jobs in Kannada saying it is not possible to conduct them in Hindi or English alone. “Our children will write the exams in the language they know. I will request our Prime Minister to take a relook (at the mode of language),” Siddaramaiah had said.