Pro-Kannada Activists Vandalise, Remove Hindi Signboard At BEL Campus in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Karnataka: Pro-Kannada activists from Karnataka Rakshana Vedike stormed BEL Circle in Bengaluru and smashed a Hindi signboard with slippers and teared it down.

The activists alleged that Hindi language imposition by Bharat Electronics Limited, claiming that the signboard was installed without authorisation. The organisation says Hindi signboards have no place in Karnataka while accusing BEL of imposing Hindi.

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However, police intervened as KRV activists vandalised the signboard during the protest, which came amid renewed opposition to the use of Hindi on public signboards in the state.

KaRaVe argued that generations of Kannadigas had contributed to the growth of BEL and questioned the rationale behind displaying a Hindi signboard on a public road outside the institution rather than within its premises.

The organisation also cited other central public sector undertakings in Bengaluru, including BEML, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), ITI Limited, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and HMT Limited, saying these institutions had played a significant role in shaping Bengaluru as an industrial hub. KaRaVe alleged that the promotion of Hindi in such establishments formed part of a larger pattern that it would oppose.

#HindiImposition Pro-Kannada activists storm Bengaluru’s BEL Circle, smash a Hindi signboard with slippers before tearing it down.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike says Hindi signboards have no place in Karnataka & accused BEL of imposing Hindi.
Language war back on Bengaluru’s streets pic.twitter.com/7wJcx2ySQg

— Harish Upadhya (@harishupadhya) July 1, 2026

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