Fight for Kannada, don't break law: Bengaluru police commissioner Praveen Sood

Bengaluru: As the fight against the imposition of Hindi is gaining momentum in the city with activists from pro-Kannada organisations indulging in blackening the Hindi signboards in Metro stations as protest, city police commissioner Praveen Sood on Saturday warned activists of stern action if they are caught violating law.

The Commissioner, however, extended his support to the campaign and said: “People of the land have all the rights to fight for the cause concerning to their identity, language and culture. The police will support such campaigns. But, if the laws are violated, nothing will stop us from taking action.” He further said that all the police officials irrespective of their home state will extend their support to the cause.

“Nanna Janma Bhumi bere, Nanna Karma Bhumi Karnataka. (My birthplace is different, but my workplace is in Karnataka). And my work place is no different from my birth place,” he said. So far, the city police have booked 36 cases against pro-Kannada activists, including Narayanagowda, president of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike in Bengaluru for blackening the Hindi text on the signboards of different metro stations. However, the activists alleged that the city police have booked them under wrong IPC sections.