BENGALURU, 31 JAN

A day after reports emerged that Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot sent back an ordinance mandating 60 per cent use of Kannada in signboards of business establishments, Raj Bhavan issued a statement that the governor has not rejected the said ordinance. “It has been returned to the State government with the advice to present the said bill before both the Houses of State Legislature for approval, since the notification for summoning both the Houses has already been issued which is scheduled to commence from 12 February, 2024," Raj Bhavan said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said the governor has sent the ordinance back to the government, and wants a bill to be placed before the Legislature and passed, considering that the Legislature session is around the corner. Siddaramaiah said, "The Governor said place it (a bill) before the Legislature and get it passed, as by the time the ordinance came to him, the assembly session was called. Though we (government) had sent the ordinance much earlier, by the time it came before him (Governor) for signing the session was called. So he sent it back. He did not say anything else. It will be passed in the Legislature."

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday requested the Governor to reconsider the decision and give his assent to the ordinance. "The governor should not wait until the Assembly passes it (in the form of a bill). In the Assembly, we will pass it, no one will have any opposition to it. I appeal to the governor to clear it up as it is a sentimental issue. You are the governor of Karnataka, you should not pick holes in such issues. Has anyone from the public or political parties objected to it? No, no one has objected," he said.

Further noting that the Cabinet had approved the ordinance before the Assembly session schedule was announced, he said, "It is a matter of the State's pride and protecting our language and culture is our duty. Also, we did not want any confusion regarding it as there were protests (against Kannada being neglected). So, it was sent to the governor for assent, and I don't know why he sent it back."

The Karnataka Cabinet had on 5 January, given its approval to an ordinance to amend the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act that mandates 60 per cent use of the state's language in signages. As of now, the law requires the use of Kannada language in the upper half of signboards, displaying the names of businesses.

The government had decided to take the ordinance route in the wake of violent protests by pro-Kannada organisations targeting businesses and establishments in Bengaluru for not giving prominence to Kannada.

The Budget session of the Karnataka Legislature is scheduled to be held from 12 to 23 February. PTI