Belagavi, 9 Oct 

Kannada organisations accused the State government and Belagavi City Corporation of failing to implement their directive mandating that at least 60 per cent of text on any public signboards should be in Kannada.

The activists, who gathered at Rani Chennamma circle in Belagavi, alleged that even signboards on government offices and civic buildings under the city corporation’s jurisdiction do not comply with the language order. 

Activists pointed out that while traders and shopkeepers have largely complied with the directive by giving prominence to Kannada on their boards, the same cannot be said for signage maintained by the corporation. They cited examples of non-compliance in street names, locality markers, parks, junctions, government office boards, municipal housing complexes, and railway overpass signboards.

“It is ironic that the government itself is violating the rule it has imposed,” said Srinivas Talukar, founder-President of Sarvodaya Seva Sangha.

Carrying photographs of the signboards that allegedly have insufficient Kannada, demonstrators marched from Chennamma Circle to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. 

The protest was organised by the Sarvodaya Seva Sangha, a pro-Kannada organisation, which submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner urging authorities to ensure strict implementation of the rule. 

The demonstrators warned that if the civic body fails to rectify the issue promptly, Kannada organisations would intensify their agitation in the coming days.