Karnataka Rakshana Vedike

Logo of the organization

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), translated as Karnataka Protection Forum, is a right wing Kannada radical organization located in the state of Karnataka, India. The organization claims that it has more than 6 million (as of 2012) members enrolled from around the world spanning to about 12,000 branches across Karnataka in all 30 districts as well as international branches in the USA, UK, UAE, Singapore, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.[1]

Agitations

Belgaum border dispute

The Belgaum border dispute is a dispute involving the Indian states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Belgaum, currently a part of Karnataka and earlier the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, is claimed by Maharashtra on linguistic grounds. On Nov 11 2005, KRV activists daubed Belgaum Mayor Vijay More's face with black paint(and later surrendered to the police)[2] in the wake of Belgaum City Corporation (BCC) passing a resolution[3][4] to include the district of Belgaum into Maharashtra, a neighbouring state. Upon his return to Belgaum, Vijay More was served with several show-cause notices by the Government of Karnataka and later dissolved the council.[5]

Following this incident, in the following year's election, Mrs. Prashanta Budavi, wife of KRV City President Mr. Shantinath Budavi was appointed as mayor of the Belgaum City Corporation. This was totally against the democracy. The Vedike is always against ethnic non Kannada speaking popolation in the state of Karnataka and have resorted to hooliganism on many occasions. Maharashtra has asked to bring 865 disputed villages including Belgaum under centre's rule until Supreme court's final verdict. N.D Patil, head of legal-committee appointed by Maharashtra government said that Karnataka is intensifying the problem. He added that Marathi people of border region are not able to live with honour and dignity under Karnataka's rule pointing out to the 'unconstitutional' dissolution of Belgaum municipal council and manhandling of Belgaum mayor by Kannada activists at Bangalore.[6]

Kaveri dispute

Within 20 minutes of the release of the Kaveri Tribunal Award, KRV called for a total bandh (civil strike) in Karnataka. According to the Vedike's claims which were reflected in the press and media, the aim of the bandh was "to make the Centre and the common man realize that the award was not fair to Karnataka." The bandh - originally scheduled for 8 Feb 2007, ultimately happened on 12 February 2007.[7] It was completely successful in all the districts of Karnataka.[8][9][10]

On 4 May 2007, about 200,000 activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (coming from all the 29 districts of Karnataka) and other organizations like the Karnataka Raita Sangha protested in New Delhi against the gazetting of the Kaveri Water Disputes Tribunal Award of 2007. The Vedike presented a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, alleging that historical bias by the colonial British administration against the Kingdom of Mysore was responsible for Karnataka being sidelined in favour of other states like Tamil Nadu.[11]

Hogenakkal project

In 2008, KRV activists protested against the proposed Hogenakal water supply project.[12] by attacking cinema halls screening Tamil movies in Bangalore, and pulling down Tamil movie hoardings and banners. They shouted slogans against Tamil Nadu and M. Karunanidhi (the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu).[13]

The KRV also threatened to burn Tamil Nadu buses in the State, to use force to stall screening of Tamil movies in Bangalore city and forced television cable operators to stop airing Tamil channels as a protest against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's recent statements on the Hognekkal issue.[14][15][16]

Jobs for Kannadigas

Implementation of Dr. Sarojini Mahishi Report in Karnataka, which recommends job reservations for Kannadigas in government departments, public sector units and even in the private sector,[17] has been one of the major demands of Vedike. It continues to protest against the non-implementation of the report.[18][19]

Reservations at HAL

On July 8, 2011 Karnataka Rakshana Vedike members staged a protest[20] at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) premises demanding reservation for Kannadigas as per the official language policy applicable to all union Government organizations.[21][22] Following this, Kannada Development Authority (KDA) chairperson Mukhyamantri Chandru also met with HAL officials and insisted on implementing Dr. Sarojini Mahishi report which recommends 100 percent reservation to locals for 'C' and 'D' category posts.[23] HAL's HR executive director cited ignorance of the fact that even Central Government organizations had to conform to the report’s recommendations and assured them of appointing Kannadigas to all of the 677 openings. Besides this, they were also presented facts that 11,262 people of its 15,162 workforce in Bengaluru consisted of Kannadigas.[24]

Kannada's supremacy in Karnataka

Protest against English

KRV has vehemently opposed what it calls as the imposition of English in Karnataka.[25] There have been incidents of the Vedike activists blackening English signboards in Karnataka (especially Bengaluru)[26] as protest against the non-conformance of commercial establishments with the Govt. of Karnataka rule that all signboards in Karnataka need to have Kannada more prominent than any other language. The Karnataka Shops & Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, under Rule 24-A states that the name board of every establishment shall be in Kannada and if any other language is used, it should be below the Kannada version.[27] Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike also issued notices to establishments that do not comply to this rule may have their licenses revoked.[28]

Hindi imposition protest

In 2006, KRV held an "Anti Hindi-imposition conference" at Yavanika, Bengaluru, on September 14, which is celebrated as Hindi Divas ("Hindi Day") in Central government institutions of India. The aim of the conference was to discuss plans for countering the imposition of Hindi on Kannadigas and the Central Government's Rajbhasha policy.

The conference was attended by K. Rajkumar, Ashok Doddameti, and chaired by T. A. Narayana Gowda.

T. A. Narayana Gowda vehemently opposed this in his speech, and declared that this imposed feeling of inferiority is fatal for the future of Kannadigas. The conference passed a resolution to "celebrate" 14 Sept as "Anti Hindi-imposition day" every year. Twenty-five Vedike activists were arrested on this day for ransacking the office of All India Radio for airing Hindi programmes in lieu of the usual Kannada programmes even after requests against the same.[29]

Shriram Shreyas Owners Association Protesting for the sake of protesting...

External links

References

  1. ↑ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಕ್ಷಣಾ ವೇದಿಕೆ - ಸಂಘಟನೆಯ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿ
  2. ↑ The Hindu: Ten Vedike Members Surrender
  3. ↑ The Hindu: Supersession of BCC came as no surprise
  4. ↑ The Hindu: Belgaum corporation: decision today
  5. ↑ Frontline - A dispute revived
  6. ↑ "Bring border region under centre's rule until problem is solved" (in Marathi). Maharashtra Times. 9 December 2005. Retrieved 29 October 2006.
  7. ↑ Ibnlive.com: Karnataka set for Monday blues, shuts down
  8. ↑ The Hindu: Cauvery verdict: bandh total, peaceful in Mysore city
  9. ↑ The Hindu Business Line: Karnataka bandh peaceful
  10. ↑ The Tribune: Karnataka comes to a halt
  11. ↑ The Hindu: Centre urged not to notify final award of Cauvery tribunal
  12. ↑ Opposition grows against project near Hogenakkal
  13. ↑ Stop the work, Tamil Nadu urged
  14. ↑ @ NewKerala.Com News, India
  15. ↑ NDTV.com: Karuna presses for Hogennakal project
  16. ↑ Kannada outfits go on a rampage against TN - Sify.com
  17. ↑ For Kannadigas Only
  18. ↑ The Hindu Business Line: Pro-Kannada activists demand more jobs for locals in IT sector
  19. ↑ The Hindu: `Rasta roko' hits vehicle movement
  20. ↑ Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Protest
  21. ↑ New Indian Express - KDA tells HAL to follow official language policy
  22. ↑ Sanjevani - ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ನೇಮಕಾತಿ ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸಿ ಕರವೇ ಕಾಲ್ನಡಿಗ ಜಾಥಾ
  23. ↑ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ನೀಡಲು ಎಚ್ ಎಎಲ್ ಒಪ್ಪಿಗೆ
  24. ↑ Deccan Herald - HAL to provide quota for Kannadigas in appointments
  25. ↑ The Hindu: Kannada activists deface English signboards
  26. ↑ The Hindu: Activists blacken signboards
  27. ↑ The Karnataka Shops & Commercial Establishments Act, 1961. (State Act w.e.f. 1-3-62)
  28. ↑ Flaunt Kannada or lose licence
  29. ↑ Oneindia.in: AIR station attacked by Kannada activists
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