Karnataka Development Authority says no to Hindi in Metro stations

BENGALURU: Taking objection to the `imposition of Hindi language' in Metro stations, the Karnataka Development Authority has sought a reply from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), a jointventure of the state and Union government, within seven days.

“Namma Metro is a state project. The display of signs in Hindi is unnecessary and also violates the state government's notification (dated 2008) and two circulars (dated 1982 and 1993),“ the chairman of the authority Prof SG Siddaramaiah, in the letter to BMRCL MD Pradeep Singh Kharola, said.

The letter, in Kannada, says: “The authority is empowered to take action against the department and its officers if they do not ensure implementation of Kannada language in the administrative sphere“.

The letter follows a campaign on social media #NammaMetroHindiBeda, urging BMRCL to remove Hindi from the signs boards. “Stop imposing Hindi on us“, “Do you find Kannada boards in Delhi Metro?“ were some of the tweets appeared under the hashtag.

Arun Javagal from the Banawasi Balaga ­ an association of Kannada lovers ­ said the campaign against usage of Hindi in Metro stations was decades old.

“When the model of the project was launched in MG Road in 2007, we fought as only Hindi was written on the models. No other central government-funded projects display Hindi except the Metro,“ he said.Why Hindi was given preference when 14% and 10% of people in Bengaluru speak Telugu and Tamil respectively, he wondered.

Kharola could not be reached.