Amid the brewing discontent in the state over inadequate usage of Kannada language in Karnataka's signboards and nameplates, Union minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday he did agree with the demand that shop signages in Karnataka should be predominantly in the local language.
According to a NDTV report, Joshi, the MP from Dharwad when questioned regarding the Kannada language row, said,"Everybody should be able to read the signs and not everyone can read English. What is the harm in writing in Kannada as well as in English or another language, like Hindi? This is not England."
He further added, "If there has been violence that cannot be approved but these people (shopkeepers) should also understand the sentiment and the necessity."
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The 60 Percent Kanada Language Row
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi's remarks came in connection with yesterday's incident where, targeting the business establishments in Bengaluru, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayana Gowda faction) damaged several signboards and name plates that did not use Kannada claiming they were "undermining the official language of Karnataka, which is Kannada."
Moreover, the activists took out rallies in various parts of the city, especially in the business hubs such as MG Road, Brigade Road, Lavelle Road, UB City, Chamarajapet, Chickpet, Kempe Gowda Road, Gandhi Nagar, St Marks Road, Cunningham Road, Residency Road and Sadahalli Gate near Devanahalli.
Many malls, shops, commercial buildings, companies and factories, especially multinational companies, faced the ire of KRV activists. They destroyed and defaced signboards and nameplates which were not in Kannada.
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Later, the agitating members including the KRV convener T A Narayana Gowda, were taken under preventive custody by police.
Speaking to reporters, Gowda said the name plates and signboards in Karnataka should be in Kannada.
"As per rule 60 per cent of the signboards and name plates should be in Kannada. We are not against your business but if you are doing business in Karnataka then you have to respect our language. If you ignore Kannada or put Kannada letters in small, we will not let you operate here," Gowda said.
