60 Percent rule in Karnataka:
The Congress-led government in Karnataka has decided to implement a change in the allocation of signboard space in business establishments, raising the requirement for Kannada representation from the existing 50% to 60%. This decision comes after an incident of activists vandalizing signboards in Bengaluru, prompting the government to address the matter.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has issued a directive for all businesses to comply to the revised 60:40 ratio by February 28, with non-compliance risking punitive action.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stressed the government’s commitment to promoting Kannada by stating that an amendment to Section 17 of the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act, 2022, would be pursued. An ordinance will be issued initially, with additional efforts to secure legislative approval during the scheduled assembly session in February.
The initial deadline for implementing the new ratio was February 2024, and the recent announcement underscores the government’s determination to enforce the change. Siddaramaiah updated journalists that the government would take punitive measures against vandals, reinforcing the state’s Kannada-first policy. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar echoed the sentiment, urging compliance with the government’s directive to protect the interests of the state’s citizens.