Politics Over Brand Bengaluru

Around 15 days ago, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, highlighted the importance of “Brand Bengaluru” while releasing a book on the city. He emphasised that it would have been ideal if the book was written in Kannada, as even expats who worked in the city should live as Kannadigas.

However, within a few days of the event, sections of the Kannada Rakshane Vedike (KRV), a fringe outfit which claims to root for the local language, went on a rampage. They pulled down the English language signboards of Bengaluru’s malls, shops and allied establishments. In one stroke, the rowdy ‘protestors’ had harmed the city’s brand.

Bengaluru, also known as the Silicon Valley of India, is home to major multinational corporations (MNCs) and leading domestic companies. Needless to say they were jolted by the KRV’s rampage.

Significantly, as published by the portal ‘India Briefing’, Bengaluru has the largest information technology workforce in the country with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) accounting for 87 percent of Karnataka’s total Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). It also has a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) influx of about $ 5 to 6 billion.

Meanwhile, alongside investors, businesses and trade establishments, scores of citizens have begun questioning the motive behind the sudden ‘activism’ over the use of Kannada. More so, as a large number of shopkeepers and companies had agreed to change their signboard space to 60 percent in Kannada, and the balance in English. This was in keeping with the requirement of the municipal authorities.

Yet, the KRV vandals went on a rampage besides virtually holding sections of the city to ransom. In addition, major parts of Bengaluru witnessed extensive traffic jams with movement of ambulances in some areas also getting affected.

Even as Narayana Gowda, who is the KRV’s president, and his supporters were detained by the police, they did not seem to be worried or repentant. In fact, the organisation’s supporters have now demanded the immediate release of their jailed members, adding that as they had done nothing wrong their detention by the police was illegal. If this was not enough, they have now threatened to hold a Bengaluru Bandh if their demand is not met.

Not surprisingly, their dare has prompted many citizens to wonder if there was more to the unfortunate incident than meets the eye. Reportedly, the protestors were not unaware of the instructions issued by the authorities to the city’s traders and firms, even the fact that business establishments had agreed to abide by the government orders before February 28.

The police, on its part, appeared unprepared for the violence and vandalism. This led to questions about its soft approach, failure to anticipate last week’s violence, and the consequent damage to the city’s image. Surely, past experience of protests over the language issue, should have prepared the police, felt the common citizen.

This concern was also raised by leading industrialists such as Kiran Majumdar Shaw, executive chairperson, Biocon. She claimed that the police’s soft handed approach was troubling, particularly as the vandals appeared to be professionals .

Mohan Das Pai, former chief financial adviser of Infosys, wondered how the police failed to stop the violence. While reiterating that there was nothing wrong in demanding that the use of Kannada be promoted, Pai said that violence could not be condoned. In this context, he said across the world, that it was common to see signages in the local language.

According to R .C. Lahoti, president of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry, it was the government’s responsibility to protect businesses and to help them in promoting Brand Bengaluru.

Many who bore the brunt of the traffic jams, and protests are now wondering if the whole exercise was staged to divert attention from the ruling party’s problems over the caste census report. Some alleged that the KRV was “encouraged to stage the protest,” even if the vandalism may have been spontaneous.

Meanwhile, an embarrassed CM, and his ministers, were quick to promise action against the perpetrators of the violence while reiterating the importance of the city. The visibly concerned minister of industry, M. B. Patil said that the city, and the state, was witnessing “intense competition from rivals , when it came to attracting investments." He reminded the KRV that their vandalism did not help Bengaluru’s cause. Especially, as such news went viral.

Deputy CM, D. K. Shivakumar, promised stringent action against the law breakers. The minister, who is in-charge of Bengaluru, bore the brunt of both the citizens as well as the business establishments’ ire.

Quick to capitalise on the available opportunity, former CM, Basavaraj Bommai, blamed the ruling party for last week’s incidents. He claimed that the KRV ‘activists’ resorted to violence as the government had failed to implement the existing rules.