After a delay of eight years, the 100-foot Road in Indiranagar was renamed after folklore expert and freedom fighter S.K. Kareem Khan on Sunday.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while recollecting the contribution of Kareem Khan, said he was a multifaceted personality who refused to take the government pension given to freedom fighters. “He was a towering personality who rose above caste, creed and religion.”

Posters

A large section of the road was dotted with huge banners and posters featuring the dignitaries invited for the renaming ceremony. At the 12th Main junction, posters and banners had covered every little space.

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials conceded that permission was not granted to any person, organisation or political party to put up the hoardings.

The BBMP has been claiming for the past few weeks to have launched a drive to remove illegal publicity materials after the Upalokayukta lambasted the civic body over this. Till August 21 — the deadline fixed for the removal of flexes, banners, buntings and posters — the BBMP had removed 14,720 illegal publicity materials across the city.

However, with the BBMP citing pressure from politicians and shortage of personnel, the Upalokayukta has given the civic body three months to rid the city of all illegal publicity materials. Officials have been directed to submit an action-taken report every month.

‘Institute award’

Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj urged the government to institute an award after Kareem Khan with a purse of Rs. 5 lakh. He also drew the attention of Mr. Siddaramaiah to the plight of Kannadigas in Talavadi, a border village, and urged him to speak to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on the matter.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Banglaore / by Special Correspondent / Bangalore – September 01st, 2014