Watch: Mob Vandals Hotel Name Board, Over 60% Kannada Rule, Mega Rally Enters Bangalore, Security Up

Pro-Kannada groups staged a large-scale demonstration in favor of 60% Kannada-language signboards and logos on Wednesday when they entered Bengaluru city from the Sadahalli toll plaza.

Images from the location showed men and women chanting slogans as they tore off individual English letter signs of a well-known chain of hotels at the Sadahalli toll plaza.

Barricades have been erected to stop the march from approaching the central city center, and police protection has been stepped up close to the toll plaza.

According to a Times of India story, a number of Chickpet merchants’ groups have requested that, by the deadline of February 28, owners of stores and other commercial premises install name boards with 60% of the signage in Kannada.

The urgent plea was made in order to prevent disruption by pro-Kannada campaigners and undesired legal action by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike.

To get the assistance of the merchants within their control, police authorities from the Chickpet subdivision also convened a meeting with them.

As to the findings, the dealers may do their business without any hindrance provided they erect nameboards with 60% Kannada signage.

A merchant who attended the meeting was cited as claiming that the stakeholders were given assurances by BBMP and police authorities that they wouldn’t be disturbed until February 28. As a consequence, the business community is asking businesspeople to replace the boards and raising awareness among them.

“We are using WhatsApp and other social media to disseminate messages to raise awareness. We are prepared to follow the instruction,” a dealer was cited as saying.

Tushar Giri Nath, the chief commissioner of the BBMP, requested in a meeting with top officials on Tuesday that they send notifications to establishments that are dragging their feet on the matter, suspend their trade licenses first if they refuse, and then terminate them.

According to a Deccan Herald story, shopkeepers are perplexed by the requirement requiring 60% Kannada on name boards. It is said that not many merchants are aware of the announcement.

“The last two days’ media reports are the only way we found out about this rule,” said Kailash Balar, Secretary of the Karnataka Hosiery and Garment Association.

According to a senior police officer in charge of the Chickpet subdivision, there was a lot of confusion since they thought the regulation was being implemented by certain organizations. Observing this uncertainty among the dealers, we proactively organized and led an awareness seminar.