JOIN USKannada scholars and artistes along with Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) activists held a protest on Sunday against City Police Commissioner Praveen Sood for filing cases against Kannada activists for masking Hindi names on signboards at Metro stations.
Addressing journalists, writer Chandrashekar Patil said the police had arrested Kannada activists without proper evidence.
“We condemn the disregard shown by the police in filing cases of communal riots against Kannada activists. The government should take strict action against foisting false and fabricated cases.
“We do not believe in inciting violence but in non-violent means,” said Patil.
On Saturday, Sood had filed cases against 36 Kannada activists including KRV workers under Section 153 of the Indian Penal Code for destroying public property in Metro stations.
Senior theatre artiste and writer Prakash Belawadi threatened that if the “baseless” arrests of Kannada activists continue, they would begin a ‘Jail Bharo’ campaign.
“KRV had initially given a warning to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) that it should remove the Hindi boards. They had given sufficient time, before acting against Hindi signboards. Are the police trying to create a rift between Kannada-speaking and non-Kannada speaking people?” Belawadi said.
Patil said they would launch ‘Praveen Sood Hatao’ campaign along with ‘Hindi Hatao‘ campaign.
‘Transfer Sood’
Meanwhile, M Venkataswamy, President, Samatha Sainika Dala, demanded that Sood should be transferred.
“It is not surprising to know that a person like Praveen Sood is involved in such behaviour. If Chief Minister Siddaramaiah does not transfer him, we will launch a protest,” said Venkataswamy.