Kannada flag should be hoisted compulsorily on state formation day, Govt tells businesses
Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said Kannada flag should be hoisted compulsorily at all educational institutions, businesses and factories, including those operating in the information technology and biotechnology sector, in Bengaluru on November one, the state's formation day.
He said about 50 per cent of people residing in the city and Bengaluru Urban district are from other states, and they should also give priority to learn Kannada.
"...we are marking 50 years of Mysore state being renamed as Karnataka. November one is a day of celebration for Kannadigas...as in-charge Minister for Bengaluru I have formulated a new programme as part of which at all schools and colleges, factories, business including IT-BT sector Kannad flag should be hoisted compulsorily," Shivakumar said.
An order to this effect would be issued, he told reporters here.
"All organisations, educational institutions, factories, businesses and others should compulsorily hoist Kannada flag. Government celebration of Rajyotsava will be held at one place, but at private and government educational institutions too celebrations should be held compulsorily aimed at instilling a sense of love and affection among students towards Kannada language," Shivakumar said.
Everyone should feel that one cannot live in Karnataka without knowing Kannada, Shivakumar said.
Schools and colleges, along with hoisting the Kannada flag on November one, should also hold cultural programmes, like it is held on Independence and Republic Days. Respect should be shown towards the Kannada flag, he said.
The Minister said he was not asking factories and businesses to organise cultural events, but the Kannada flag should compulsorily be hoisted.
Asked if those who do not abide by the government order would be penalised, he said: "I'm informing everyone that on this Kannada land, learning Kannada is their duty, we have made Kannada as a subject compulsory at schools.....such events of hoisting Kannada flags are organised at villages, but in Bengaluru city -- as district minister I'm making it compulsory."
Shivakumar also warned pro-Kannada organisations of legal action if they try to force the move on institutions or businesses. "They (institutions and businesses) will do it voluntarily after the government has asked them to do it," he said.
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Strict security measures in place in Mumbai for Messi's events at 2 venues Dec 14, say police
Mumbai (PTI): In view of Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday, the city police are implementing stringent security measures, like not allowing water bottles, metals, coins inside the stadiums and setting up watchtowers to keep an eye on the crowd, officials said.
The police also said taking extra care to avoid any stampede-like situation and to prevent recurrence of the chaotic situation that unfolded in Kolkata during Messi's visit on Saturday as thousands of fans protested inside the Salt Lake stadium here after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the football icon despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.
"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.
Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.
As the Mumbai police have the experience of security 'bandobast' during the victory parade of ICC World Cup-winning Indian team and World Cup final match at the Wankhede Stadium, in which over one lakh cricket fans had gathered, we are prepared to handle a large crowd of fans, he said.
"We are trying to avoid the errors that occurred in the past," the official said.
There is no place to sneak inside the stadiums in Mumbai like the Kolkata stadium, according to him.
The police are also asking the organisers to provide all the required facilities to the fans inside the stadium, so that there will be no chaos, he said, adding the spectators have purchased tickets in the range of Rs 5,000 to 25,000. After paying so much of amount, any spectator expects proper services, while enjoying the event, he said.
The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.
The organisers responsible for Messi's India visit recently came to Mumbai to discuss security arrangements. During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly, according to the official.
After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out, he said.
Police has the standard procedure of the security arrangements inside the Wankhede Stadium, where people are barred from taking water bottles, metals objects, coins. Police are setting up watch towers near the stadiums and there will be traffic diversions, so that there is maximum space available to stand, according to the official.
Police are also appealing to the spectators to use public transport service for commuting and avoid personal vehicles to reach south Mumbai.
To avoid any stampede-like situation, police are also taking precautionary measures and will stop the fans some distance ahead of the stadium and public announcement systems will be used to guide the crowd. Barricades will be placed at various places to manage the crowd.
In case the crowd swells up beyond expectation, the police will divert people to other grounds and preparations in this regard underway, he said.
Additional police force has been deployed in south Mumbai to tackle any kind of situation, he said.
