Victory for Namma Metro Hindi Beda campaign? BMRCL to remove Hindi signs from all stations

The Namma Metro Hindi Beda campaign appears to have emerged victorious with a senior official from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited confirming to TNM that all Hindi signs at metro stations will be removed.

The official source said that BMRCL would follow the directions of the Kannada Development Authority and remove Hindi signs from all metro stations.

On Tuesday, the Kannada Development Authority Chairman SG Siddaramaiah visited the BMRCL office to hold talks regarding the usage of Hindi.

“We have verbally assured the KDA that Hindi signs will be removed from Metro Stations in Bengaluru,” the senior official at BMRCL added. He, however, gave no timeline on when the Hindi signage would bea removed.

The online and offline campaign against ‘Hindi imposition’ began after the inauguration of the Green Line running between Yelachanahalli and Nagasandra stations. Angered that Hindi signs had been prominently used in metro stations, the Namma Metro Hindi Beda campaign gathered vast support from Bengalureans and also Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Supporters of the campaign argued that the Namma Metro should not follow the three-language formula when other metros did not do so. As the campaign gathered steam, Hindi signs in many stations were taped over, though Namma Metro officials declined to take responsibility for this.

“The BMRCL has successfully completed Phase 1 of the Metro and their efforts must be recognised. However, I have warned BMRCL that it would invite breach of privilege proceedings if the Hindi signs are not removed. BMRCL does not have to abide by the Centre’s rules,” SG Siddaramaiah added.

The chairman of KDA told BMRCL to ignore the letter sent by the central government, which suggested the usage of the three-language policy” in Metro Station signs.

“BMRCL is not a central government agency and it does not have to abide by the Centre’s directions. Also, BMRCL must respond to RTI queries in Kannada,” SG Siddaramaiah said. He also confirmed that they got no written assurance from BMRCL but only a verbal one. “However, I expect BMRCL to keep its end of the agreement,” Siddaramaiah noted.

The protest against Hindi imposition witnessed activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike blackening the Hindi signs at various metro stations across the city. Thirty six cases were filed against these activists following the incident.