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Explained: What Is ‘60% Kannada’ Signboard Protest Causing Riot On Streets Of Bengaluru?

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Pro-Kannada groups on Wednesday made their way into Bengaluru city from the Sadahalli toll plaza, organising a massive rally to advocate for the inclusion of sixty percent Kannada content on signboards and logos.

Footage from the scene depicted both men and women dismantling individual English letter signs from a well-known hotel chain McDonald’s at the Sadahalli toll plaza, all the while vociferously chanting slogans.

Several days following the issuance of notices by the city’s civic body mandating prominent Kannada signage for commercial establishments, members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedika took action on Tuesday by removing certain English signboards in various areas of Bengaluru. According to news agency PTI, the pro-Kannada activists additionally cautioned shops to promptly display billboards in the local language.

What is ‘60% Kannada’ rule?

In an effort to boost the prominence of the local language, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) issued a directive to businesses throughout Bengaluru, asking them to prominently display a minimum of 60% Kannada on their signboards. Failure to comply by February 28 may lead to the revocation of trade licenses and potential legal consequences for businesses that do not adhere to the directive. This development reignited the longstanding debate over language preferences in the Karnataka capital.

Tushar Giri Nath, the Chief Commissioner of BBMP, announced that the administration is poised to identify businesses that do not conform to the new language requirement. Speaking during a meeting with Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), an organization advocating for the use of Kannada, Nath conveyed, “There are 1400 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads in the city, and all the commercial shops on these roads will be surveyed zone-wise.”

Bengaluru, as a central hub for IT-related employment attracting individuals from across the country, has grappled with the delicate matter of language preference for an extended period. The city’s diverse linguistic landscape has occasionally led to tensions, with the utilization of Kannada being a central point of discussion.

In addition to individual shops, shopping complexes, and malls falling under BBMP’s jurisdiction have been granted a grace period of 15-20 days to adhere to the new regulation. This extension aims to provide larger establishments with the necessary time to implement the required changes.

In October, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah underscored the importance of using Kannada, once again placing the language issue in the spotlight. He stated, “Everyone living in this state should learn to speak Kannada. We are all Kannadigas. People speaking different languages have settled in this Kannada land since the unification of Karnataka.”

Why are pro-Kannada groups going on rampage?

Demonstrations advocating for the inclusion of 60 percent Kannada in all signboards across Bengaluru escalated into acts of vandalism in various areas of the city on Wednesday. Numerous boards were marred during a procession led by Karnataka Rakshna Vedike (KRV) from Sadahalli toll gate towards the city.

The march was organised following the pro-Kannada group’s imposition of a deadline on December 27 for all establishments in Bengaluru to adhere to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) directive, which requires 60 percent Kannada in signage throughout the city.

Karnataka Rakshna Vedike president T A Narayana Gowda, who’s at the helm of these protests, warned of “unforeseen incidents in Bengaluru” if protesters were arrested or stopped from continuing the movement.

“I spoke to the chief minister and deputy chief minister yesterday night. They assured us that the protests would be allowed. If they arrest us or stop the movement, then the police will be responsible for any unforeseen incidents in Bengaluru,” he said.

The demonstrators damaged the signboard of the multi-city hotel chain Bloom, which lacked Kannada content. They were observed entering the hotel premises while chanting pro-Kannada slogans. Progressing towards Chikkajala, pro-Kannada activists defaced and took down numerous signboards. Videos circulated on social media depicted protesters spray-painting certain boards, and they were also witnessed tearing down large flexes installed along the airport road.

Entertainment

Mithun Chakraborty’s Wallet Gets Stolen During BJP Roadshow In Jharkhand, Organisers Request Pickpockets To Return It

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Actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty found himself in a sticky situation after his wallet was stolen from his pocket during his mega roadshow in Jharkhand on Tuesday. The actor campaigned for BJP in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, and that is when he got pickpocketed, leaving the organisers red-faced.

A video from the rally has now gone viral in which the organisers and other BJP karyakartas can be heard repeatedly requesting the pickpockets to return the veteran star’s wallet. “Whoever has stolen the wallet, please return it to Mithun Da,” a BJP member was seen urging the crowd.

Despite repeated pleas, the wallet was not returned.

Chakraborty led a massive roadshow in the Nirsa Assembly area of Jharkhand to extend his support to BJP candidate Aparna Sen Gupta. Thousands of people gathered at the venue to catch one glimpse of the star, and it led to major chaos and mismanagement at the spot.

Despite security forces in place, the crowd went out of control and rushed towards the stage to click photos and videos of the actor and see him from up close. It was during this chaos that Chakraborty’s wallet was stolen.

Disappointed by the fiasco, Chakraborty concluded the event sooner than expected and rushed back to safety.

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National News

Ugly Fight Breaks Out Between 2 Groups Of Women As They Hit Each Other With Sticks Over Playing Music In UP’s Baghpat

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A dispute over a seemingly trivial matter escalated into a chaotic clash between two groups of women in Uttar Pradesh’s Doghat on Thursday. 

As per reports, the altercation began over playing music but tensions in the area quickly intensified when two groups of women started thrashing each other with sticks and other objects. 

A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows around eight to ten women involved in a fierce brawl on a busy street. Bystanders can be seen watching in shock, with some attempting to intervene but retreating due to the intensity of the fight.

Several women were injured in the confrontation, and the footage has sparked outrage on social media. 

Reports suggest that local residents eventually managed to de-escalate the situation, but not before multiple women sustained injuries. 

Doghat police have initiated an investigation based on the video. As per reports, they are currently examining the video footage, and appropriate action will be taken following the investigation.

UP: Two burnt alive in truck collision in Fatehpur

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a truck driver and his helper were burnt alive when two trucks collided and caught fire in the Hussainganj area of Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district, police said on Thursday.

The incident occurred around midnight on Wednesday on the Fatehpur-Lucknow road, Additional SP Vijay Shankar Mishra said.

Vinay Shukla (35), the driver of one of the trucks, and his helper, Ramraj Yadav (23), were burnt alive in the blaze. The occupants of the other truck managed to jump out before the fire spread, Mishra added.

Both victims were residents of Kherwa village in the Shivratanganj police station area of Amethi district. Their bodies have been sent for postmortem, Mishra said.

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National News

J&K Assembly: Scuffle Breaks Out After Engineer Rashid’s Brother Shows Article 370 Banner In House

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J&K Assembly: Scuffle Breaks Out After Engineer Rashid's Brother Shows Article 370 Banner In House

Srinagar: The proceedings of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly were disrupted after a scuffle broke out in the House between National Conference and BJP MLAs.

According to reports, the House proceedings were briefly adjourned after Engineer Rashid’s brother, MLA Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, displayed a banner about Article 370, which led to objections from BJP MLA Sunil Sharma.

Irfan Hafeez Lone displayed a banner on the restoration of Article 370 in the J&K Assembly. After a scuffle between Lone and BJP members, the House proceedings were adjourned for 15 minutes. BJP raised concerns over security, questioning how such actions were allowed.

Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, stated that under special status, some had built their own “palaces” and even cemeteries. This provoked anger from National Conference (NC) leaders. BJP members began chanting slogans in the House, while NC leaders also responded with their own slogans. The visuals of the incident have surfaced on the internet.

In the viral video, the lawmakers can be seen pushing each other on the floor of the house.

After the House resumed following the scuffle, several opposition MLAs causing disruption were physically removed by marshals and evicted from the Assembly.

Meanwhile, PDP moves a fresh resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly seeking the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. The BJP opposed the resolution demanding its withdrawal.

Amid uproar, the Jammu and Kashmir assembly has been adjourned till Friday. The UT assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution seeking a dialogue for “restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees” to the Jammu and Kashmir. The resolution was supported by all parties except the BJP.

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