© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The Kannada language row refuses to die down on social media. A new post by Bengaluru-based startup investor Ritesh Banglani amid the flooding due to torrential rain is stirring up attention on social media.
In a sarcastic post on X, Banglani shared a picture showing a traffic jam due to severe waterlogging. “I’m in a traffic jam in the middle of a frigging river. But hey, at least the signboards are in Kannada,” he wrote.
See here:
Banglani’s post immediately gained traction, further triggering a debate over Kannada and Hindi languages. While many backed Banglani, others slammed him over his “logic.”
A user wrote, “Signboard in Hindi will stop the water!! What a brilliant logic!!” Another user commented, “Surprisingly many are not even bothered about failed infrastructure but language. Congratulations to Bengaluru; separatist win , public lost.”
“The amount of Kannadians triggered on this sarcastic post is insane,” a third user reacted. “Talking as if hindi signboards would have solved the problem? Just guys just want to hate nothing else. attention seekers!!!” another user commented.
This is not the first time when an X post has triggered a debate or a backlash over the language row in Bengaluru. Last month, a video of a driver slamming a toll booth employee for speaking in Hindi sparked controversy on the Internet. The viral video showed a man screaming at the toll employee at the Karnataka-Maharashtra border. The toll employee recorded the confrontation on his phone and defended his stance.
In April 2023, a video of a man from Bihar alleging harassment by Kannadigas in Bengaluru ignited a language row on social media among pro-Kannada and pro-Hindi groups, with the latter accusing the state of promoting racism and hate.
