On 27 December 2023, activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV, T A Narayana Gowda faction) pulled down, smashed and blackened English signboards on shops, malls and hotels across Bengaluru, demanding that 60% of every business signboard be in Kannada. Police arrested Gowda and between 29 and 53 others, and a court granted him bail on 6 January 2024. The Siddaramaiah government condemned the vandalism but backed the demand, and in February 2024 made 60% Kannada on signboards mandatory by law.
Key takeaways
- The BBMP gave Bengaluru businesses until 28 February 2024 to put 60% Kannada on nameboards; the KRV set its own deadline of 27 December 2023.
- Narayana Gowda and 28 others were remanded by a Devanahalli court; police put total arrests at 53. Gowda and 29 activists got bail on 6 January 2024.
- Siddaramaiah said "Kannada boards are a must" but condemned the vandalism, and his Cabinet approved an ordinance on 5 January 2024.
- The Governor returned the ordinance with advice to pass it as a bill; the 60% amendment was passed in February and notified on 26 February 2024.
Background: an old rule, rarely enforced
A 2008 rule requiring Kannada to dominate shop nameboards lost its penalty clause in the Karnataka High Court in 2009 on a Vodafone petition, upheld on appeal in 2014. The BBMP's 2018 signage bye-laws then set aside 60% of a nameboard for Kannada, and the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act, 2022, passed under the BJP government, required the upper half of business boards to be in Kannada under Section 17(6) The News Minute. Deccan Herald noted the rule "was seldom enforced strictly" Deccan Herald.
How it started: a mall, a legal notice and two deadlines
KRV organising secretary Dinesh Kumar said the outfit began a drive against English nameboards in November 2023. "The newly inaugurated mall in Hebbal went to court and we received a notice. That is when we met the BBMP commissioner," he said Deccan Herald. Activists had demanded that the Mall of Asia put up a Kannada nameboard as large as its English one South First.
On 24 December, at a meeting called by the KRV, BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Girinath said all commercial establishments must give Kannada as much as 60% of their nameboards by 28 February 2024 or lose their trade licence. The BBMP would survey 1,400 km of main roads and serve notices Deccan Herald. The KRV had set 27 December as its own deadline Scroll.
Timeline
Rally from Sadahalli
The KRV rally was to run from Sadahalli toll gate near the airport to Cubbon Park; organisers said over 5,000 people came. Activists began tearing down English boards on Airport Road in Chikkajala soon after it started Deccan Herald.
Gowda detained, vandalism spreads
Police detained Gowda on the airport road Scroll. Groups then threw stones at glass signboards and pulled down hoardings of clothing, beverage and food brands in the city centre, KR Puram and Rajajinagar; some Lavelle Road shops that did carry Kannada were also hit Deccan Herald. Vandalism was reported on MG Road, Brigade Road and at UB City, and the Mall of Asia and Phoenix Marketcity stayed shut Scroll.
Detentions and first cases
By 8 pm police had detained more than 500 KRV members and booked five cases Deccan Herald.
Judicial custody
The Devanahalli JMFC court remanded Gowda and 28 others to judicial custody until 10 January, in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison South First.
Bail granted
The Fifth Additional Sessions Court in Devanahalli granted bail to Gowda and 29 activists IANS via Daijiworld Asianet Newsable.
Arrests, cases and bail: the figures
- Preventive detentions: Over 500 by the evening of 27 December Deccan Herald. Police commissioner B Dayananda later said more than 1,000 were detained and released that night Deccan Herald; PTI also reported over 1,000 PTI via Tribune.
- Arrests: Gowda plus 28 or 29 associates were remanded by the Devanahalli court Scroll (The Hindu) South First. Dayananda put the total at 53 South First Deccan Herald.
- Cases: Dayananda told South First "around 13 cases" were registered; IANS quoted him as saying 10 FIRs; Deccan Herald reported 28 cases at Chikkajala police station alone South First IANS Deccan Herald.
- Charges: IPC sections 188, 283, 341, 353 (criminal force to deter a public servant, non-bailable) and 427 (mischief) South First The News Minute.
- Injuries: A senior official said one policeman was hit by a stone thrown at a glass signboard Deccan Herald.
- Bail: Granted on 6 January 2024 by Judge Biradar Devendrappa Asianet Newsable. Claim · Country and Politics One report said Gowda was released after 13 days, re-arrested on older warrants including a 2017 case, and then given conditional bail; other outlets reviewed did not report this Country and Politics.
Both accounts
KRV's account
Gowda said the businesses were "undermining the official language of Karnataka" and called the protest "peaceful" South First. "If you ignore Kannada, or put Kannada letters in small [print], we will not let you operate here," he said Scroll (NDTV). Claim · KRV The outfit says police "suppression" provoked members into pulling boards down, and claimed more than 1,000 English signposts were removed Deccan Herald. Gowda said "It is a lie that we attacked the police" and demanded the North East DCP's suspension South First. Organising secretary Arun Javagal said enforcement was the BBMP's job, and if it failed it became the KRV's "bounden duty" South First.
Police and government account
Documented Videos showed activists tearing down and spraying black paint on signboards Scroll. Police say they identified the accused from video and that the cases cover stone-pelting at BMTC buses, deflating bus tyres, vandalising nameboards and blocking the highway South First. The North East division FIR alleges protesters damaged public property at Chikkajala and manhandled police Scroll (The Hindu). Home Minister G Parameshwara rejected claims of ill-treatment: "when properties are vandalised, should the police sit quietly?" Deccan Herald
The Siddaramaiah government's position
Government's position The government backed the 60% demand and opposed the method.
Kannada boards are a must. This is Kannada nadu and the boards should be in Kannada here. We are not opposed to other languages, but Kannada should be prominent.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Bengaluru, 28 December 2023 (PTI via Outlook)
He added that "no one should cause damage to government or public property", and when asked about withdrawing cases said only that the government did not oppose peaceful protest Outlook (PTI). He announced an ordinance PTI via Tribune. Deputy CM D K Shivakumar said: "We cannot tolerate the destruction of properties in Bengaluru" Deccan Herald.
The BJP backed the activists. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi called the protest "rightful" and contrasted the arrests with the government's support for withdrawing cases over the DJ Halli and KG Halli violence; former CM Basavaraj Bommai said he was "pained" by Gowda's arrest The News Minute.
How businesses reacted
The next day many stores on Brigade Road covered their names with cloth, though several said sales were not hit. Suhail Yousuf of the Brigade Shops and Establishments Association said over 90% of stores there already showed Kannada prominently: "These types of unnecessary threats by such groups are unacceptable." Bhoopalam Srinath of the Bangalore Traders' Association said "vandalising property is not the solution" Deccan Herald.
In February 2024 activists removed boards at Jayanagar shops, and traders asked the BBMP to wait for rules, warning that ambiguity invited "violent" enforcement. FKCCI asked the government to enforce the rule without force Deccan Herald Deccan Herald.
The ordinance, the Governor and the 2024 Act
The Cabinet's 5 January ordinance raised the requirement from the upper half of a signboard to 60% Deccan Herald. On 30 January Shivakumar said: "The Governor could have given his assent. Instead, he has sent it back saying it should be passed in the Assembly." Deccan Herald reported this as a rejection Deccan Herald. Documented Raj Bhavan said the Governor had not rejected it but returned it with advice Deccan Herald: the legislature had already been summoned, so it should go to both Houses as a bill South First (PTI).
The Assembly passed the bill on 15 February 2024. It requires businesses, trusts, hospitals, laboratories, amusement centres and hotels to show Kannada on 60% of their name boards, in the upper half. Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi said rules would allow licence cancellation and fines South First (PTI). The Governor gave assent and the Act was notified on 26 February Lexplosion Deccan Herald.
Enforcement since 2024
- Feb 2024: BBMP served notices on about 51,000 establishments. It suspended a health inspector who allegedly had a board torn down with men from a pro-Kannada outfit South First. Shivakumar then extended the deadline by two weeks South First.
- Mar 2024: BBMP said 49,732 of 50,357 flagged establishments had complied, many with stopgap stickers or banners Deccan Herald South First (PTI).
- Jan 2025: BBMP tied trade licence issue and renewal to the rule; the Kannada Development Authority said over one lakh unlicensed shops were beyond its reach Deccan Herald Deccan Herald.
- Oct 2025: Mysuru City Corporation ordered 60% Kannada nameboards Deccan Herald.
- Dec 2025: Legislators said enforcement in Bengaluru was weak; Tangadagi promised a 15-day to one-month deadline Deccan Herald.
Outcome
- Injuries: One policeman hit by a stone, per a senior official.
- Detentions: 500 to over 1,000 preventive detentions on 27 Dec 2023.
- Arrests: 29 remanded by the Devanahalli court; 53 in total, per the police commissioner.
- Bail: Granted to Gowda and 29 activists on 6 Jan 2024.
- Law: Kannada Language Comprehensive Development (Amendment) Act, 2024, notified 26 Feb 2024, mandating 60% Kannada on signboards.
What is still pending
No trial outcome in the December 2023 cases was found in the reporting reviewed, and no report said the cases were withdrawn. Rules on fines were still being framed when the Act took effect, and in December 2025 legislators said enforcement in Bengaluru remained patchy.
Questions people ask
What happened in Bengaluru on 27 December 2023?
Activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayana Gowda faction) held a rally demanding 60% Kannada on business signboards and tore down, smashed and blackened English boards across the city. Police detained hundreds and arrested Gowda.
When did Narayana Gowda get bail?
A Devanahalli sessions court granted him and 29 activists bail on 6 January 2024, about ten days after his arrest.
Did the Governor reject the Kannada signboard ordinance?
Deccan Herald reported it as a rejection, but Raj Bhavan said he returned it with advice to pass it as a bill because the legislature session was due. The bill passed in February 2024 and was notified on 26 February.
Sources
- Deccan Herald: Shops must have 60% Kannada on name boards by Feb-end or face action, 24 Dec 2023
- The News Minute: What the rules on Kannada sign boards are, Dec 2023
- Scroll: Pro-Kannada protestors vandalise English signboards, several detained, 27 Dec 2023
- Deccan Herald: Activists go on a rampage over non-Kannada name boards, 28 Dec 2023
- Deccan Herald: Police action provoked vandalism, says KRV, 28 Dec 2023
- South First: Pro-Kannada activists clash with businesses in signage protest, 27 Dec 2023
- Scroll: Pro-Kannada protestors arrested, 28 Dec 2023
- South First: KRV members in judicial custody, 28 Dec 2023
- The News Minute: KRV president Narayana Gowda arrested, 28 Dec 2023
- Outlook (PTI): Anyone can protest, but no one should damage public property, 28 Dec 2023
- Tribune (PTI): Ordinance soon on Kannada signboards, says CM, 29 Dec 2023
- Deccan Herald: 53 arrested after Kannada campaign turns violent, 29 Dec 2023
- South First: How a mall's notice sparked Bengaluru-wide signage protests, 29 Dec 2023
- Deccan Herald: Karnataka ministers voice out against vandalism, 29 Dec 2023
- Deccan Herald: Businesses coping with KRV protest aftermath, 29 Dec 2023
- The News Minute: Pralhad Joshi slams Congress govt for arrest of pro-Kannada activists, 29 Dec 2023
- Deccan Herald: 60% Kannada on all signboards, govt to issue ordinance, 6 Jan 2024
- IANS via Daijiworld: KRV president, 29 activists granted bail, 6 Jan 2024
- Asianet Newsable: Court grants bail to Narayana Gowda, activists, 6 Jan 2024
- Country and Politics: KRV state president Narayana Gowda released on bail, 13 Jan 2024
- Deccan Herald: Governor rejects ordinance on 60% signage in Kannada, 31 Jan 2024
- Deccan Herald: Governor did not reject ordinance, returned it with advice: Raj Bhavan, 31 Jan 2024
- Deccan Herald: Bengaluru traders fear "violent" enforcement of 60% rule, 18 Feb 2024
- South First (PTI): Bill mandating 60% Kannada on sign boards passed in Assembly, 15 Feb 2024
- Lexplosion: Amendment Act, 2024 receives Governor's assent, 2024
- South First: BBMP issues notices to over 50,000 shops, 27 Feb 2024
- Deccan Herald: Shops without 60% Kannada to be sealed, 29 Feb 2024
- South First: Government extends deadline by 2 weeks, 29 Feb 2024
- Deccan Herald: 49,732 shops comply; 625 yet to fall in line, 14 Mar 2024
- South First (PTI): Kannada now gets prominence on signboards, Mar 2024
- Deccan Herald: Trade licence only for shops with 60% Kannada, 25 Jan 2025
- Deccan Herald: BBMP asks shops to renew trade licences by Feb 1, 30 Jan 2025
- Deccan Herald: Mysuru hotel owners back Kannada nameboard rule, 19 Oct 2025
- Deccan Herald: Fix deadline for enforcement of 60% Kannada signage, 13 Dec 2025