A little over two weeks since the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) began the process of removing signage in Hindi from stations in Phase I, the process seems to have stalled. Hindi signage continues to be prominently visible in several stations.
The unannounced decision to remove the signage was taken based on a letter written by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Narendra Singh Tomar on July 28. Mr. Siddaramaiah informed that the State government was compelled to ask BMRCL to temporarily re-design the signages/name boards in metro stations without using the Hindi language and script.
Based on this letter, the process of removing signage began on August 5. Signage at the entry points of Chikpete, Kempegowda interchange, K.R. Market and Jayanagar stations were removed. However, that was the end of it.
Metro officials could not be reached for comment.
According to regular commuters, on some routes, announcements are made in Hindi. However, this could not be independently confirmed.
Row over language
The #NammaMetroHindiBeda campaign, which gave rise to the demand for the adoption of a two-language policy of English and Kannada, went viral on social media around June 23 this year. Over the past two months, the campaign has progressed to include the removal of Hindi as well as the inclusion of Kannada in several other walks of life. Activists have been demanding the inclusion of Kannada in bank documents, safety announcements on flights out of Karnataka. The campaign caught the attention of the Kannada Development Authority, which instructed BMRCL to stop the use of Hindi immediately and to remove all signage.
While BMRCL maintained silence over the use of Hindi, the campaign has also attracted several controversies.
A police complaint was filed by a section of activists against the BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola as well as State Chief Secretary Subhash Chandra Khuntia. The issue has divided politicians with the Congress firmly backing the removal of Hindi while Union ministers like D.V. Sadananda Gowda have supported continuation of the three-language policy. Even within the BJP, certain politicians have spoken against the imposition of Hindi.
