Hindi banner cutout case: Pro-Kannada activists granted bail

Team Udayavani, Aug 20, 2019, 12:32 PM IST

Bengaluru: Pro-Kannada activists who were arrested for attacking Jain building and taking down a Hindi banner in the city were granted bail by a local court on Monday.

The court granted bail to the activists on a surety of Rs. 50,000 and two persons. The court also conditioned that the accused should not tamper with the evidence of the case and should co-operate with the investigation.

The accused, during the hearing of the court told the court that their actions were only aimed for the betterment of Kannada and that’s why they removed the Hindi banners to setup Kannada banners instead.

Six people belonging to a pro-Kannada outfit were arrested for tearing down a Hindi hoarding outside a Jain community hall, police said on Monday.

The arrest has triggered a social media uproar, with two former Chief Ministers Siddaramaiah and H D Kumaraswamy demanding their release.

‘#ReleaseKannadaActivists’ was trending on twitter.

Reacting to the arrest, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said his government gave utmost priority to safeguard the interests of Kannada and Kannadigas and there would be no compromise in it.

Police said the incident took place on Friday evening near a Jain community hall here, where few people belonging to a pro-Kannada outfit tore down the hoarding in Hindi put up outside, citing exclusion of Kannada in it as the reason.

The video footage of the group arguing with a person over usage of only Hindi and no Kannada in the hoarding, and then tearing it has also gone viral.

On receiving a complaint, police said they registered a case and arrested the six on Sunday.

BJP MP from Bengaluru South Tejasvi Surya has tweeted against the act of those claiming to be Kannada activists.

“Deeply hurt over attack on our Jain brothers in B’luru over Hindi on a banner of a temple by few rowdy elements. They however never question use of (Urdu) in Bengaluru. Assaulting peaceful Jains who contribute to Karnataka brings infamy to genuine Kannada lovers & activists,” he tweeted.

As the news of the arrest spread, few groups too demanded release of those arrested.

Former Chief Minister and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah said the Karnataka governments act to crush Kannada activists using police, “by adding religion and political colour to Kannada agitation is condemnable.”

“I demand that the state government release the Kannada activists immediately,” he tweeted.

Kumaraswamy urged Chief Minister Yediyurappa to withdraw cases filed against Kannada activists.

Yediyurappa made it clear that some action was taken to maintain law and order.

“Government does not intend to target pro-kannada activists…I have equal concern for Kannada and Kannadigas as well as for farmers. The well-being of the people of the state is my motto,” he added.