Synopsis
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has warned of strict legal action against those ridiculing Kannada and Kannadigas on social media. He emphasised the importance of the local language and urged Kannadigas to help outsiders learn it. The government recently implemented laws mandating Kannada signage for businesses.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday threatened to use harsh sections of the law against those engaged in ridiculing Kannada or Kannadigas on social media, seeking to convey a stern message to those seeking to disrespect local language.
The government would treat such tendencies as “betrayal of the state” and take tough action against such “miscreants”, the CM said in his Kannada Rajyotsava address. The year-long golden jubilee celebrations culminated on Friday as the state was renamed Karnataka on November 1, 1973.
Siddaramaiah’s comment came in response to reports of frequent verbal skirmishes between locals and outsiders and, social media comments critical of the local language and culture sparking resentment.
The CM urged Kannadigas to transact with fellow citizens in Kannada and encourage them to learn the local language while stressing that all those, regardless of caste, creed and religion, living in the state were Kannadigas by default.
A recent video by a woman suggesting that Bengaluru owed its current status to outsiders paying taxes did not go down well with local Kannadigas.
Half of Bengaluru consists of people from outside the state, and hence there was a need to help them learn Kannada, Dy CM DK Shivakumar said, early last month, while asking technology companies and other industries in Bengaluru to compulsorily hoist the State flag on November 1 and celebrate the Rajyotsava Day. About 70% of institutions celebrated the festival, Shivakumar told the media on Friday.
Staff at PSU banks asking customers to speak in Hindi is a frequent occurrence, leading to protests by sections of locals. Pro-Kannada organisations held protests across the state on September 14 opposing celebration of the day as Hindi Diwas.
In July this year, the ruling Congress sought to enact a law mandating a quota for Kannadigas in the private sector, sparking widespread backlash from the technology sector and industry captains who termed the move regressive. The CM, however, put the Bill on hold and promised to take it up after wider consultations.
A law, recently enacted by the State legislature, mandates all businesses and establishments to display boards with bold names in Kannada (60%) demonstrating importance for the local language. Previously incidents of extreme vandalism were reported across Bengaluru in December 2023, with several offices and shops incurring hefty damages caused by pro-Kannada organizations for not displaying Kannada signboards.
