Protests Erupt in Bengaluru as Activists Target Union Minister Over Hindi Advocacy
BENGALURU – Tensions flared at the busy Anand Rao Circle today as members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) launched a fierce demonstration against Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje. The protest, led primarily by the organization’s women’s wing, saw activists attempting to burn an effigy of the Minister following her recent remarks supporting the mandatory status of a third language (Hindi) in the state’s education system.
The unrest was triggered by the state government’s decision to implement a grading system for the third language in SSLC examinations this year—a move Karandlaje has publicly criticized, advocating instead for the language’s traditional weightage.
Allegations of “Hindi Imposition”
The demonstrators, representing the Bengaluru City District unit of the KRV, raised slogans not only against Karandlaje but also targeted several prominent BJP leaders, including B.Y. Vijayendra, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, R. Ashoka, Sriramulu, and Suresh Kumar. The activists accused the leadership of prioritizing “Hindi imposition” over the welfare of Kannada-speaking students.
Shwetha Mohan, President of the KRV Women’s Wing (Bengaluru City District), delivered a scathing critique of the Union Minister’s stance.
“Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje must first learn to love the Kannada language. It was the Kannada-speaking people who voted her into power, not ‘Hindi-walas’,” Mohan stated during the rally.
Academic Stakes and Regional Disparity
The protesters highlighted the academic toll the current language policy has taken on local students. According to KRV data, nearly 140,000 students failed their exams last year specifically due to the Hindi paper, resulting in a lost academic year for thousands.
“Where was Shobha Karandlaje when these students were losing their futures?” Mohan questioned. “Is it her intention that Kannada students should fail and ruin their prospects? How did such a distorted thought even occur to her?”
The KRV further argued that BJP-ruled states often follow a two-language formula (English and Hindi), questioning why Karnataka’s children should be burdened with a third language.
“When children in other states are learning only two languages, why should Karnataka’s students carry the extra weight of a third? Do BJP leaders lack this basic common sense?” the activists demanded.
Demands for Accountability
The protest also touched upon broader issues of regional representation, with activists questioning the Minister’s silence regarding the perceived lack of employment opportunities for Kannadigas in the railway sector. Shouts of “Hindi slaves, go back” and “Down with Hindi imposition” echoed through the circle as the situation escalated.
Police Intervention
The demonstration reached a flashpoint when activists attempted to set fire to an effigy of the Union Minister. Police personnel stationed at the site quickly intervened, seizing the effigy and detaining several woman activists.
The KRV has issued a stern warning that if “anti-land policies” continue, they will launch a state-wide stir under the leadership of State President T.A. Narayana Gowda.
