A dramatic scene unfolded in Bengaluru as 41 activists from the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) were taken into judicial custody. Their alleged offense? Storming a Parliamentary Committee on Official Language meeting at a local hotel on Friday.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that 28 men and 13 women, all involved in the protest, were presented before the 1st Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Court, which subsequently ordered their remand.
In a fiery response, KRV leader T.A. Narayana Gowda vehemently denounced the arrests, accusing authorities of fabricating charges against his group’s members. “Our activists have been unjustly arrested with baseless cases,” Gowda declared. “The government must act immediately to quash these charges and release everyone. Should they fail to do so, we are prepared to launch a massive statewide movement.”
Gowda emphasized that the KRV would not be deterred by legal actions or incarceration, issuing a stark warning that any group or committee attempting to promote Hindi within Karnataka would face severe repercussions.
These strong statements follow the incident during the three-day conference of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language. On Thursday, KRV members reportedly breached security at the Taj West End Hotel, the venue for the discussions. Police reports indicate that on the meeting’s concluding day, between 10:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., more than 40 KRV activists entered, chanting slogans and vociferously opposing the committee’s agenda.
The High Grounds Police Station has registered a case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) pertaining to criminal trespass and unlawful protest.
Arun Javagal, spokesperson for the KRV, informed The Hindu that while some detainees secured bail on Friday, others remain in judicial custody. He explained their motivation: “We learned they were advocating for Hindi, which is why we protested.”
The KRV’s demands extend beyond the immediate incident; they are calling for the complete disbandment of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language and advocate for all Indian languages to be recognized as official languages of the country.