Belgaum: Linguistic harmony appears to have come once again under threat with some Kannada activists demanding installation of Kannada banners, posters, flags, hoardings, and so on to create "Kannada atmosphere" in the city, which is poised to play host to the second Vishwa Kannada Sammelana from February 23 to 25.

Some of them suggested that the district administration should utilise all the existing hoardings of various companies for the sammelan posters throughout the city at least till the end of the programme.

According to a Kannada activist, the immediate concern of all the Kannada organisations was to create a pro-Kannada ambience befitting the occasion. If this did not happen, a wrong message would be sent to the visitors from outside when they would see name boards, signboards and hoardings in non-Kannada languages.

However, the possibility of miscreants playing mischief to harm the linguistic harmony and peace during the occasion could not be ruled out as a section of Marathi media had allegedly started provoking people.

About two months ago, Belgaum city and Khanapur town witnessed violence when miscreants threw stones at Kannada boards and damaged KSRTC buses while the Yuva Maha Melava of Marathi-speaking people was held in Khanapur.

There was violence during the "Karnataka bandh" on November 4 when some Kannada groups replaced saffron flags identified with Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi rather than Hindu religious flag in the areas having common boundary with Maharashtra, particularly Belgaum district. Any attempt to deface or replace Marathi board or flag had resulted in instant protests from Marathi-speaking people.

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