Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has rejected an ordinance aimed at increasing the use of Kannada in business signboards. This marks the first public disagreement between the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government and the Raj Bhavan.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar revealed on Tuesday that the Governor had returned the ordinance. “We passed a law and approved an ordinance. The Governor could have given his assent, but instead, he sent it back, stating that it should be passed in the Assembly,” Shivakumar explained, without providing further details reports the Deccan Herald.
The Budget session is scheduled to commence next month, with Gehlot set to address both houses of the legislature on February 12. It is speculated that the Governor may have returned the ordinance due to the upcoming legislative session.
The decision to pursue an ordinance was made by the Siddaramaiah administration in response to violent protests by pro-Kannada groups, who targeted businesses in Bengaluru for not giving sufficient importance to the state language.