Namma Metro's 'Hindification' triggers twitter campaign by pro-Kannada group
- Pro-Kannada group Banavasi Balaga Prakshana wants the Metro authorities to stop giving prominence to Hindi in Metro stations
- This is not the first time that such backlash is witnessed against Hindi in Metro
- The campaign #nammametrohindibeda and #nammametrokannadasaaku has already gone viral
FollowNamma Metro is basking in the glory of finally connecting the North-South Bengaluru that has been a dream of Bengalureans for almost a decade. But the Namma Metro has earned the wrath of some Bengalureans for being "Hindi". Condemning the 'Hindification' by Namma Metro in Karnataka, a pro-Kannada group is launching a campaign against it at 6 pm June 20 on social media with #nammametrohindibeda and #nammametrokannadasaaku.
The reason for the protest - as claimed by the Banavasi Balaga Prakashana on its Facebook page - is that the Namma Metro is giving much prominence to Hindi, these days. Hindi has been given second place in the name boards of Metro stations in Basavanagudi, Vijayanagar and other areas, while it was in the third place, earlier. "If this continues, days are not far when the Namma Metro will give prominence to Hindi over Kannada," reports Prajavani quoting Banavasi Balaga Prakashana.
The group on its Facebook page has urged the fellow Kannadigas to join its campaign on #nammametrohindibeda and #nammametrokannadasaaku to stop 'Hindification' and ensure the primacy of Kannada. Through the campaign, the group wants to draw the attention of the chief minister and Metro authorities to ensure the right of Kannada language in Karnataka.
Namma Metro is like any other government transport system and it must follow the guidelines of usage of Kannada, as prescribed by the Karnataka government. Namma Metro must follow other transport facilities - KSRTC and BMTC - in usage of Kannada, says a petition addressed to chief minister on Change.org.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike too had objected to the usage of Hindi in Metro in 2011. The pro-Kannada group was of the opinion that apart from Kannada, the announcement is made in English which is an accepted language of communication. "There was no necessary to make announcements in Hindi." Considering this, the Metro authorities had bring down the number of announcements in Hindi.
It may be recalled here last year, after a Facebook user had demanded station announcements in Hindi on Bengaluru Metro in a closed group had sparked a backlash on Twitter. The complainant was upset that the Namma Metro had stopped making announcements in Hindi on the Western Corridor as the names were long. Twitteratis fought over with #nammametrohindibeda.
