- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
He said while giving importance to the local language is understandable, violence cannot be tolerated.
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN entrepreneur Mohandas Pai on Wednesday (27) reacted to violence caused by pro-Kannada activists in Bengaluru, India’s information technology (IT) capital, over the use of English language in signboards. He said while Kannada language, which is spoken in the southern Indian state of Karnataka of which Bengaluru is the capital, is important, there is no place for violence.
Pai, who is from Karnataka, asked a former police commissioner of Bengaluru after the latter said local language is the first priority after another person criticised the violence, saying it might adversely affect investors.
Alok Mishra, an author and poet, responded to a video of the violence caused by members of Kannada Rakshana Vedike (KRV) on X, saying, “Sad and sorry state of a state known for IT, international business offices and tech-heads of the country… yes, you can protest and ‘demand’ things as per your whims. There’s a way, my friends. And this is certainly not one of the possible ways. Create panic and investors might look a different way.”
Sad and sorry state of a state known for IT, international business offices and tech-heads of the country… yes, you can protest and 'demand' things as per your whims. There's a way, my friends. And this is certainly not one of the possible ways. Create panic and investors might…
— Alok Mishra (@PoetAlok_Mishra) December 27, 2023
To that, Bhaskar Rao, former Bengaluru police commissioner, said local language has the first priority and advised Mishra to see how things are in Europe.
“Mishra ji, Local language Has First priority, go see Europe and then talk…”
Mishra ji, Local language
Has First priority, go see Europe and then talk…— Bhaskar Rao (@Nimmabhaskar22) December 27, 2023
Pai, former chief financial officer of Infosys, an Indian IT giant headquartered in Bengaluru, responded to Rao asking him why he was silent on the violence.
“Yes local language is important but why are you quiet about such violence? You were our CP before and used to protect us!the issue is the violence and lack of police protection not language. We must respect Kannada but no violence,” he said on X.
Yes local language is important but why are you quiet about such violence? You were our CP before and used to protect us!the issue is the violence and lack of police protection not language. We must respect Kannada but no violence @Nimmabhaskar22 https://t.co/CBaPGMxCs9
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) December 27, 2023
Bhaskar then replied saying the law-keepers were turned into mute spectators by a “clueless and helpless” home minister of Karnataka. He also said the violence was promoted to divert attention from serious issues.
He said, “Vandalism, Violence, Destruction of property and Intimidation is not acceptable and zero tolerance. Police were made mute spectators by a clueless and helpless State Home Minister. This is totally sponsored to divert attention of serious issues and everyone has fallen for it..”
Vandalism, Violence, Destruction of property and Intimidation is not acceptable and zero tolerance. Police were made mute spectators by a clueless and helpless State Home Minister. This is totally sponsored to divert attention of serious issues and everyone has fallen for it..
— Bhaskar Rao (@Nimmabhaskar22) December 27, 2023
The activists tore down English signboards and vandalised glass windows of shopping malls, shops and showrooms in various commercial hubs in the city, such as MG Road, Brigade Road, UB City and others.
Karnataka’s chief minister Siddaramaiah warned of strict action against those who broke the law.
On Wednesday (27) night, KRV leader Narayana Gowda was arrested along with 28 members of the outfit for the act of vandalism.
