Kannada workers of Karnataka Raksha Vedike (KRV) welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi blackened several flex boards on Mysore Road as they were in Hindi. Flex boards indicated that they were planted by supporters of Horticulture Minister and Rajarajeshwarinagar (RR) MLA Munirathana.
RR Nagar police reached the spot and took the group into custody. KRV youth wing president Dharmaraja Gowda, who led the movement, criticized “a Karnataka minister putting up flex boards entirely in Hindi without Kannada words” to welcome the PM. “We will not tolerate such slavery of Hindi or imposition of Hindi by our representatives. The police did not allow us to darken all the flex boards on Mysore Road. However, a team of our workers has gone to Mysore on a bike convoy and will darken all the flex boards in Hindi,” he said.
Meanwhile, the incident has raised questions over flex boards and BJP party flags not only on Mysore Road, but also in other areas of the city that Mr Modi will visit on Monday. Almost every Namma Metro pillar on Mysore Road, where he will preside over two events, has been greeted by flex boards in the name of ministers and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s face is also prominently displayed.
It may be recalled that the CM had recently objected to welcoming flex boards for a program for the inauguration of development works in RR Nagar under the chairmanship of Shri Munirathna. He had directed the municipal authorities to remove all flexes and banners from the stage and ensure that they do not come to the city anymore. Following this, Deepak RL, Special Commissioner (Revenue), Brihat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had recently said that punitive action would be followed in booking cases, with the civic body collecting the cost of removing these flex boards and banners. was decided. The person in whose name they were illegally named.
Despite repeated attempts, Mr. Muniratna was unavailable for comment.
Chief Municipal Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath said that action will be taken as per law. Dr Nagaraj, Joint Commissioner, RR Nagar Zone, BBMP said that all illegally fitted flex boards and flags will be removed by Monday morning.