Udupi: The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), Udupi district unit, has issued a strong ultimatum to all commercial establishments in the region, demanding the use of Kannada on nameplates. The organization has given a 15-day deadline for compliance and warned of aggressive agitation if the rule is ignored.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, district president A R Prabhakar Poojary stated that all shops, hotels, showrooms, schools, and colleges must have at least 60% of their nameboards in Kannada, as mandated by the state government. “Unfortunately, this rule is not being properly implemented in Udupi,” he said. “We have submitted a memorandum to both the deputy commissioner and the city municipal commissioner.”
Poojary emphasized that the rule must apply uniformly, regardless of the establishment’s type or location. He declared that if there’s no visible change within the stipulated period, KRV activists will resort to direct action, including blackening boards that display only English text.
“The city municipal commissioner has assured us of legal action against violators, which is why we’ve allowed a 15-day window,” Poojary said. “This is Karnataka — the hesitation to use Kannada is unacceptable.”
Joining him at the press conference were KRV general secretary Hemanth, vice presidents Anil and Sahabudin, and district convener Kiran Pinto.
The KRV has a history of advocating for Kannada rights and has reiterated its commitment to protecting the language in public spaces across Karnataka.