'Thousands' of men jump college gates and assault female students
11:07am Feb 11, 2020
Reports that large crowds of men sexually harassed and abused students at a women's college in the Indian capital of New Delhi last week has sparked an outcry and protests there.
The men barged onto the Gargi College campus in South Delhi last Thursday, on the final day of a school festival, allegedly molesting and sexually assaulting the female students en masse, according to a statement issued by the General Body of Students.
The student group said that "thousands" of men jumped the gates of the university, descended onto the campus and damaged property, while police and non-teaching staff stood by and did nothing.
"Men stood in gangs and ogled at women, groped them, tried to feel them up, pushed them, and touched them throughout the concert," the statement read.
"People formed human chains to move from one area to another. After the concert was over, the men followed women, catcalled them, and forced them to reveal their names and Instagram IDs."
New Delhi police said it had filed an official complaint against unidentified people for trespassing, as well as assaulting and harassing women, at a Delhi college last week.
"We are in touch with the principal of the college and are looking at CCTV footage as well," police spokesperson Anil Mittal said.
The Deputy Commissioner of South Delhi Police Atul Thakur said that police were investigating claims that officers did not take action during the alleged assaults.
"We have started our own formal inquiry and it is being led by a senior police official," Mr Thakur added.
Many of the allegations of harassment and abuse were reported to the Gargi Students' Union through an online form. The Union said the three-day festival, known as "Reverie '20," started peacefully, before taking a "horrendous" turn on the third day.
"It became absolutely impossible to move in that crowd," the union said in a statement.
The union claimed bouncers and police "looked incompetent and indifferent" as hundreds of people barged through the gates.
Gargi College has condemned the "outrageous incidents" that took place during Reverie, saying that it was committed to the security of students and would set up a "high-level fact finding committee" to meet with the complainants and eyewitnesses.
"The institution will file a report of complaints to the police at the earliest so perpetrators can be brought to justice," principal Promila Kumar said in a statement. "We will set up a security protocol to ensure such incidents never take place again."
Protesters gathered outside the school on Monday, some holding signs calling for Kumar to resign.
The General Body of Students has called for a mass strike at the school until a meeting is secured with the principal and teachers responsible for their safety and security. It is also calling on students to sign a petition "to assure us a safe and secure Reverie 2021 with a proper plan of action put in front of us."
The Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, Swati Maliwal, visited the college on Monday to meet with students and the administration.
"In Gargi College, the miscreants busted the walls and molested the college girls. Despite such a serious matter, the police and college administration present on the spot have not taken any action yet!" Ms Maliwal tweeted, adding that the perpetrators "must be arrested immediately!"
Outcry over reports of mass assault at New Delhi women's college
New Delhi (CNN) — Reports that large crowds of men sexually harassed and abused students at a women's college in the Indian capital New Delhi last week has sparked an outcry and protests there.
The men barged onto the Gargi College campus in South Delhi last Thursday, on the final day of a school festival, allegedly molesting and sexually assaulting the female students en masse, according to a statement issued by the General Body of Students.
The student group said that "thousands" of men jumped the gates of the university, descended onto the campus and damaged property, while police and non-teaching staff stood by and did nothing.
"Men stood in gangs and ogled at women, groped them, tried to feel them up, pushed them, and touched them throughout the concert," the statement read.
"People formed human chains to move from one area to another. After the concert was over, the men followed women, catcalled them, and forced them to reveal their names and Instagram IDs."
New Delhi police said it had filed an official complaint against unidentified people for trespassing, as well as assaulting and harassing women, at a Delhi college last week.
"We are in touch with the principal of the college and are looking at CCTV footage as well," police spokesperson Anil Mittal said.
The Deputy Commissioner of South Delhi Police Atul Thakur said that police were investigating claims that officers did not take action during the alleged assaults.
"We have started our own formal inquiry and it is being led by a senior police official," Thakur added.
Many of the allegations of harassment and abuse were reported to the Gargi Students' Union through an online form. The Union said the three-day festival, known as "Reverie '20," started peacefully, before taking a "horrendous" turn on the third day.
"It became absolutely impossible to move in that crowd," the union said in a statement.
The union claimed bouncers and police "looked incompetent and indifferent" as hundreds of people barged through the gates.
Gargi College has condemned the "outrageous incidents" that took place during Reverie, saying that it was committed to the security of students and would set up a "high-level fact finding committee" to meet with the complainants and eyewitnesses.
"The institution will file a report of complaints to the police at the earliest so perpetrators can be brought to justice," principal Promila Kumar said in a statement. "We will set up a security protocol to ensure such incidents never take place again."
Protesters gathered outside the school on Monday, some holding signs calling for Kumar to resign.
The General Body of Students has called for a mass strike at the school until a meeting is secured with the principal and teachers responsible for their safety and security. It is also calling on students to sign a petition "to assure us a safe and secure Reverie 2021 with a proper plan of action put in front of us."
The Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, Swati Maliwal, visited the college on Monday to meet with students and the administration.
"In Gargi College, the miscreants busted the walls and molested the college girls. Despite such a serious matter, the police and college administration present on the spot have not taken any action yet!" Maliwal tweeted, adding that the perpetrators "must be arrested immediately!"
Nightmare for Gargi College girls
February 11, 2020
A college fest turned out to be the worst nightmare at Delhi’s University’s all-girls Gargi College where a group of drunken men broke into the institute and allegedly groped, harassed and molested several women during the fest. The incident came to light days after complaints of mass molestation and abuse inside the campus went viral on social media.
“The DCW has issued notices to the Delhi Police and authorities of Gargi College. We are yet to receive any reply on the same. We will take appropriate action once we receive an answer,” said Satyvrat Nehra an official from DCW.
On Monday, the students of Gargi College protested against the administration and demanded a full and impartial inquiry into the alleged incident. Not only this, students also called for the resignation of the college Principal as well as of the head of the Student Union for the delay in action against the criminals.
The incident took place on February 6, when the students of were pumped to enjoy the music performance of popular musician Jubin Nautiyal. It was the last day of the three-day annual festival, Reverie 2020 and students from across colleges started queuing up from the afternoon to enjoy the show. However, the fest was hijacked by hordes of unidentified men who swarmed the venue and allegedly verbally as well as physically molested women students.
It was reported that several middle-aged men (not students of the college) entered the college campus around 6.30 pm. As per eyewitnesses, there was no checking of passes or ID cards at all. Even male students were required to carry a pass to enter the girls’ college. The crowd started to build by 4 pm. By 6.30 pm, the main gate was opened and all the men standing among the gathered crowd outside made their way into the venue unchecked. Also the students said, the group of men were drunk and were chanting “Jai Shree Ram” in the college campus and was reportedly wearing saffron. From the group a few of them even climbed on the table of an empty stall and started shouting “Jo larki mujhse pategi usey 50k ki makeup kit dunga (I will present a makeup kit worth Rs 50,000 to the girl who agrees to go out with me).”
Several students’ claimed that CRPF and Delhi Police personnel were deployed on the campus. However, they weren’t able to curb the mayhem and chaos, nor did the college authorities or union bodies try to intervene much.
A student said on the condition of anonymity, “There was a complete lapse of security. The students were groped, molested and even assaulted by the men who all appeared to be in their mid-30s. The college had claimed to set up security but, I don’t think there must have been such an incident in any college campus across the country.”
The students have demanded a fact-finding committee to instantly be instituted to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to book. They have also asked for written apology from the Principal as well as those responsible for handling the security on the day of the event. This was because when the students went to complaint about the incident to the authorities, they told the students to not attend the fest if they felt unsafe instead of helping them.
Students of Gargi College wait for this fest whole year however, this year it turned out to be a great disappointment as the administration was zero concerned about the safety. Students have decided to boycott classes until their demands will not fulfilled by the authorities.
After the all chaos the Delhi Commission of Women Swati Maliwal took suo moto cognizance of the complaints made by some of the students on social media.
A case has been registered at the Hauz Khas police station under IPC Sections 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
After the incident, the question has arisen that where our country is heading? As every hour in every corner women are assaulted, raped, molested or killed. Why the government is not taking any strict action against such crime? Why the conviction rate is so poor, that the accused is not thinking once before committing crime?
'Molested us, masturbated at us': Gargi College students say drunken men barged into campus during annual fest; to strike today
Stones were pelted at a Tirupati-Mangaluru bus in Farangipet as the 12-hour Karnataka bandh called by several pro-Kannada organisations under the banner of Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota began on Thursday, reported ANI.
ANI
✔@ANI
Mangaluru: Stones pelted on a Tirupati-Mangaluru bus in Farangipet. Several pro-Kannada groups have called for Karnataka bandh today demanding implementation of Sarojini Mahishi report which recommended certain percentage of jobs to Kannadigas in private&public sector companies
114
10:10 PM - Feb 12, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy
40 people are talking about this
Several pro-Kannada outfits called for a bandh on Thursday, demanding implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report by providing more jobs for Kannadigas in the state. The Karnataka bandh, which began at 6 am will continue till 6 pm and is likely to impact life in Bengaluru as well as in other parts of the state.
In Bengaluru, city buses plied as usual though most of them ran almost empty as there were very few commuters. Autorickshaws operated as usual though one of the autorickshaw drivers' associations had supported the bandh
In Bengaluru, Ola, Uber and auto services were affected even though buses were on as usual. Security has also been beefed up in Bengaluru, with two ACPs, five police inspectors, 15 sub-inspectors and 800 personnel deployed, reports The Indian Express. Heavy deployment of policemen has been made at important locations to check untoward incidents.
Public transportation including the Namma Metro and the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) are to be functioning as normal in Bengaluru, reports The Hindu. Several reports claim that the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) staff and workers associations are yet to decide if they will participate in the bandh.
However, cab services may take a hit from 6 am to 6 pm as cab owners and auto drivers who are part of Adarsha Auto and Taxi Union and Jai Bharatha Vehicle Owners and Drivers Association are set to take part in the bandh.
Tanveer, president of Ola, Uber Drivers’ and Owners’ Association, Bengaluru told ANI, "We have told our drivers to stop services till evening. More than 70,000 vehicles usually run, but we are stopping the service today. We are supporting the bandh."
The main trade area of the city, KR Market and surrounding places had no effect of the bandh in the morning hours. Pro-Kannada activists were on the city rounds appealing to traders to shut their shops in their support.
In Anekal near Attibele in the city on Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, activists reportedly tried to shut shops and business establishments forcibly. At Pirangipet in Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district, stones were pelted at a private bus in the morning. Heavy deployment of policemen has been made at important locations to check untoward incidents.
The government said schools and colleges would function as usual. Police said no permission had been given for any rally and warned of action against those forcing closure of businesses and shops, PTI reported. Meanwhile, Bangalore University has postponed all postgraduate examinations scheduled for Thursday in the view of the bandh.
Many organisations have also extended their support to the bandh. According to The NewsMinute, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), Lorry Owners Association, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) among others have supported the call for the bandh on 13 February.
The organisations are demanding the implementation of a report by former union minister Sarojini Mahishi that recommends a certain percentage of jobs to Kannadigas in public sector undertakings, private companies, and multinational companies. The report was submitted in 1984 but is yet to be implemented.
Several pro-Kannada outfits called a bandh on Thursday, demanding implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi. PTI
The Karnataka government on Wednesday said that it is committed to fulfilling the Sarojini Mashishi report. "Our government has shown commitment towards the implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report. We have already implemented the report in the government sector. In the private sector, we are trying to implement it step by step. A cabinet decision has been taken to implement it step by step," Minister for Kannada and Culture CT Ravi said.
Stating that its implementation was not easy in the private sector as availability of skilled workforce, among others, should be looked into, Ravi said "we can say it should be compulsory, but we will have to look into the consequences also. So we are discussing (with the private sector). After imparting required training (to locals), it can be implemented. Or else it may lead to the closure of industries,"
The Sarojini Mahishi Committee, headed by former Union Minister Sarojini Mahishi, was constituted in 1984 to recommend job opportunities for Kannadigas in Karnataka. It submitted the report two years later.
Ravi hit out at the leader of the opposition in the assembly Siddaramaiah for recently announcing his support for the agitation, calling it a "joke". He pointed out that after the report was submitted, the former chief minister had been in power for the "most period", either as a member of the Janata Dal (U) or the Congress.
"Was he eating groundnuts then (while in power)? Now that he has lost power, he has remembered the Sarojini Mahishi report. Was he sleeping while in power?" he asked.
Siddaramaiah had recently met Kannada outfits agitating for implementation of the report and had extended his full support to them.
Ravi also said the government desired that the medium of instruction should be Kannada, but as the chief minister recently said, it cannot succeed without the cooperation of society.
"The Supreme Court has already said it is the choice of parents to choose the medium of instruction and it cannot be imposed. This has made the government helpless. When we desire that the administration should be in Kannada, without making it compulsory in education, how can it remain in administration?" he asked.
Worried that a situation may arise when the future generations may not be in a position to understand Kannada, he said "without making it (Kannada) compulsory in education, how can it be implemented in administration? It is a complex problem."
The minister said that the government was committed to the promotion of Kannada.
It has been decided to call a meeting of opposition leaders, literary figures, thinkers, regarding filing an appeal for "reexamination" of the Supreme Court decision to explore if there is an opportunity, or else bring in a constitutional amendment taking on board other states, who share the sentiment. He also said several government ministers, including Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, have spoken to those who have called for the bandh on Thursday and tried to convince them against it.
With inputs from agencies
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.
Updated Date: Feb 13, 2020 11:12:56 IST
Tags : Bandh In Bangalore, Bangalore Bandh, Bangalore Bandh Today,Bangalore Central University, Bangalore News, Bangalore Strike, Bangalore University Results, Bengaluru Traffic, BMTC, BS Yediyurappa, High Court Karnataka, Kannada, Karnataka, Karnataka Bandh, Karnataka Bandh 2020,Karnataka Bandh Today, Karnataka Bandh Tomorrow, Karnataka News,Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota, Karnataka Strike, KSRTC, Namma Metro,NewsTracker, Ola Bengaluru, Ola Services, Ola Uber Strike Bangalore, Sarojini Mahishi, Sarojini Mahishi Report, Strike In Bangalore, Tomorrow Bandh In Bangalore
11:07am Feb 11, 2020
Reports that large crowds of men sexually harassed and abused students at a women's college in the Indian capital of New Delhi last week has sparked an outcry and protests there.
The men barged onto the Gargi College campus in South Delhi last Thursday, on the final day of a school festival, allegedly molesting and sexually assaulting the female students en masse, according to a statement issued by the General Body of Students.
The student group said that "thousands" of men jumped the gates of the university, descended onto the campus and damaged property, while police and non-teaching staff stood by and did nothing.
"Men stood in gangs and ogled at women, groped them, tried to feel them up, pushed them, and touched them throughout the concert," the statement read.
"People formed human chains to move from one area to another. After the concert was over, the men followed women, catcalled them, and forced them to reveal their names and Instagram IDs."
New Delhi police said it had filed an official complaint against unidentified people for trespassing, as well as assaulting and harassing women, at a Delhi college last week.
"We are in touch with the principal of the college and are looking at CCTV footage as well," police spokesperson Anil Mittal said.
The Deputy Commissioner of South Delhi Police Atul Thakur said that police were investigating claims that officers did not take action during the alleged assaults.
"We have started our own formal inquiry and it is being led by a senior police official," Mr Thakur added.
Many of the allegations of harassment and abuse were reported to the Gargi Students' Union through an online form. The Union said the three-day festival, known as "Reverie '20," started peacefully, before taking a "horrendous" turn on the third day.
"It became absolutely impossible to move in that crowd," the union said in a statement.
The union claimed bouncers and police "looked incompetent and indifferent" as hundreds of people barged through the gates.
Gargi College has condemned the "outrageous incidents" that took place during Reverie, saying that it was committed to the security of students and would set up a "high-level fact finding committee" to meet with the complainants and eyewitnesses.
"The institution will file a report of complaints to the police at the earliest so perpetrators can be brought to justice," principal Promila Kumar said in a statement. "We will set up a security protocol to ensure such incidents never take place again."
Protesters gathered outside the school on Monday, some holding signs calling for Kumar to resign.
The General Body of Students has called for a mass strike at the school until a meeting is secured with the principal and teachers responsible for their safety and security. It is also calling on students to sign a petition "to assure us a safe and secure Reverie 2021 with a proper plan of action put in front of us."
The Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, Swati Maliwal, visited the college on Monday to meet with students and the administration.
"In Gargi College, the miscreants busted the walls and molested the college girls. Despite such a serious matter, the police and college administration present on the spot have not taken any action yet!" Ms Maliwal tweeted, adding that the perpetrators "must be arrested immediately!"
Outcry over reports of mass assault at New Delhi women's college
New Delhi (CNN) — Reports that large crowds of men sexually harassed and abused students at a women's college in the Indian capital New Delhi last week has sparked an outcry and protests there.
The men barged onto the Gargi College campus in South Delhi last Thursday, on the final day of a school festival, allegedly molesting and sexually assaulting the female students en masse, according to a statement issued by the General Body of Students.
The student group said that "thousands" of men jumped the gates of the university, descended onto the campus and damaged property, while police and non-teaching staff stood by and did nothing.
"Men stood in gangs and ogled at women, groped them, tried to feel them up, pushed them, and touched them throughout the concert," the statement read.
"People formed human chains to move from one area to another. After the concert was over, the men followed women, catcalled them, and forced them to reveal their names and Instagram IDs."
New Delhi police said it had filed an official complaint against unidentified people for trespassing, as well as assaulting and harassing women, at a Delhi college last week.
"We are in touch with the principal of the college and are looking at CCTV footage as well," police spokesperson Anil Mittal said.
The Deputy Commissioner of South Delhi Police Atul Thakur said that police were investigating claims that officers did not take action during the alleged assaults.
"We have started our own formal inquiry and it is being led by a senior police official," Thakur added.
Many of the allegations of harassment and abuse were reported to the Gargi Students' Union through an online form. The Union said the three-day festival, known as "Reverie '20," started peacefully, before taking a "horrendous" turn on the third day.
"It became absolutely impossible to move in that crowd," the union said in a statement.
The union claimed bouncers and police "looked incompetent and indifferent" as hundreds of people barged through the gates.
Gargi College has condemned the "outrageous incidents" that took place during Reverie, saying that it was committed to the security of students and would set up a "high-level fact finding committee" to meet with the complainants and eyewitnesses.
"The institution will file a report of complaints to the police at the earliest so perpetrators can be brought to justice," principal Promila Kumar said in a statement. "We will set up a security protocol to ensure such incidents never take place again."
Protesters gathered outside the school on Monday, some holding signs calling for Kumar to resign.
The General Body of Students has called for a mass strike at the school until a meeting is secured with the principal and teachers responsible for their safety and security. It is also calling on students to sign a petition "to assure us a safe and secure Reverie 2021 with a proper plan of action put in front of us."
The Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, Swati Maliwal, visited the college on Monday to meet with students and the administration.
"In Gargi College, the miscreants busted the walls and molested the college girls. Despite such a serious matter, the police and college administration present on the spot have not taken any action yet!" Maliwal tweeted, adding that the perpetrators "must be arrested immediately!"
Nightmare for Gargi College girls
February 11, 2020
A college fest turned out to be the worst nightmare at Delhi’s University’s all-girls Gargi College where a group of drunken men broke into the institute and allegedly groped, harassed and molested several women during the fest. The incident came to light days after complaints of mass molestation and abuse inside the campus went viral on social media.
“The DCW has issued notices to the Delhi Police and authorities of Gargi College. We are yet to receive any reply on the same. We will take appropriate action once we receive an answer,” said Satyvrat Nehra an official from DCW.
On Monday, the students of Gargi College protested against the administration and demanded a full and impartial inquiry into the alleged incident. Not only this, students also called for the resignation of the college Principal as well as of the head of the Student Union for the delay in action against the criminals.
The incident took place on February 6, when the students of were pumped to enjoy the music performance of popular musician Jubin Nautiyal. It was the last day of the three-day annual festival, Reverie 2020 and students from across colleges started queuing up from the afternoon to enjoy the show. However, the fest was hijacked by hordes of unidentified men who swarmed the venue and allegedly verbally as well as physically molested women students.
It was reported that several middle-aged men (not students of the college) entered the college campus around 6.30 pm. As per eyewitnesses, there was no checking of passes or ID cards at all. Even male students were required to carry a pass to enter the girls’ college. The crowd started to build by 4 pm. By 6.30 pm, the main gate was opened and all the men standing among the gathered crowd outside made their way into the venue unchecked. Also the students said, the group of men were drunk and were chanting “Jai Shree Ram” in the college campus and was reportedly wearing saffron. From the group a few of them even climbed on the table of an empty stall and started shouting “Jo larki mujhse pategi usey 50k ki makeup kit dunga (I will present a makeup kit worth Rs 50,000 to the girl who agrees to go out with me).”
Several students’ claimed that CRPF and Delhi Police personnel were deployed on the campus. However, they weren’t able to curb the mayhem and chaos, nor did the college authorities or union bodies try to intervene much.
A student said on the condition of anonymity, “There was a complete lapse of security. The students were groped, molested and even assaulted by the men who all appeared to be in their mid-30s. The college had claimed to set up security but, I don’t think there must have been such an incident in any college campus across the country.”
The students have demanded a fact-finding committee to instantly be instituted to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to book. They have also asked for written apology from the Principal as well as those responsible for handling the security on the day of the event. This was because when the students went to complaint about the incident to the authorities, they told the students to not attend the fest if they felt unsafe instead of helping them.
Students of Gargi College wait for this fest whole year however, this year it turned out to be a great disappointment as the administration was zero concerned about the safety. Students have decided to boycott classes until their demands will not fulfilled by the authorities.
After the all chaos the Delhi Commission of Women Swati Maliwal took suo moto cognizance of the complaints made by some of the students on social media.
A case has been registered at the Hauz Khas police station under IPC Sections 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
After the incident, the question has arisen that where our country is heading? As every hour in every corner women are assaulted, raped, molested or killed. Why the government is not taking any strict action against such crime? Why the conviction rate is so poor, that the accused is not thinking once before committing crime?
'Molested us, masturbated at us': Gargi College students say drunken men barged into campus during annual fest; to strike today
Stones were pelted at a Tirupati-Mangaluru bus in Farangipet as the 12-hour Karnataka bandh called by several pro-Kannada organisations under the banner of Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota began on Thursday, reported ANI.
ANI
✔@ANI
Mangaluru: Stones pelted on a Tirupati-Mangaluru bus in Farangipet. Several pro-Kannada groups have called for Karnataka bandh today demanding implementation of Sarojini Mahishi report which recommended certain percentage of jobs to Kannadigas in private&public sector companies
114
10:10 PM - Feb 12, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy
40 people are talking about this
Several pro-Kannada outfits called for a bandh on Thursday, demanding implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report by providing more jobs for Kannadigas in the state. The Karnataka bandh, which began at 6 am will continue till 6 pm and is likely to impact life in Bengaluru as well as in other parts of the state.
In Bengaluru, city buses plied as usual though most of them ran almost empty as there were very few commuters. Autorickshaws operated as usual though one of the autorickshaw drivers' associations had supported the bandh
In Bengaluru, Ola, Uber and auto services were affected even though buses were on as usual. Security has also been beefed up in Bengaluru, with two ACPs, five police inspectors, 15 sub-inspectors and 800 personnel deployed, reports The Indian Express. Heavy deployment of policemen has been made at important locations to check untoward incidents.
Public transportation including the Namma Metro and the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) are to be functioning as normal in Bengaluru, reports The Hindu. Several reports claim that the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) staff and workers associations are yet to decide if they will participate in the bandh.
However, cab services may take a hit from 6 am to 6 pm as cab owners and auto drivers who are part of Adarsha Auto and Taxi Union and Jai Bharatha Vehicle Owners and Drivers Association are set to take part in the bandh.
Tanveer, president of Ola, Uber Drivers’ and Owners’ Association, Bengaluru told ANI, "We have told our drivers to stop services till evening. More than 70,000 vehicles usually run, but we are stopping the service today. We are supporting the bandh."
The main trade area of the city, KR Market and surrounding places had no effect of the bandh in the morning hours. Pro-Kannada activists were on the city rounds appealing to traders to shut their shops in their support.
In Anekal near Attibele in the city on Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, activists reportedly tried to shut shops and business establishments forcibly. At Pirangipet in Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district, stones were pelted at a private bus in the morning. Heavy deployment of policemen has been made at important locations to check untoward incidents.
The government said schools and colleges would function as usual. Police said no permission had been given for any rally and warned of action against those forcing closure of businesses and shops, PTI reported. Meanwhile, Bangalore University has postponed all postgraduate examinations scheduled for Thursday in the view of the bandh.
Many organisations have also extended their support to the bandh. According to The NewsMinute, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), Lorry Owners Association, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) among others have supported the call for the bandh on 13 February.
The organisations are demanding the implementation of a report by former union minister Sarojini Mahishi that recommends a certain percentage of jobs to Kannadigas in public sector undertakings, private companies, and multinational companies. The report was submitted in 1984 but is yet to be implemented.
Several pro-Kannada outfits called a bandh on Thursday, demanding implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi. PTI
The Karnataka government on Wednesday said that it is committed to fulfilling the Sarojini Mashishi report. "Our government has shown commitment towards the implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report. We have already implemented the report in the government sector. In the private sector, we are trying to implement it step by step. A cabinet decision has been taken to implement it step by step," Minister for Kannada and Culture CT Ravi said.
Stating that its implementation was not easy in the private sector as availability of skilled workforce, among others, should be looked into, Ravi said "we can say it should be compulsory, but we will have to look into the consequences also. So we are discussing (with the private sector). After imparting required training (to locals), it can be implemented. Or else it may lead to the closure of industries,"
The Sarojini Mahishi Committee, headed by former Union Minister Sarojini Mahishi, was constituted in 1984 to recommend job opportunities for Kannadigas in Karnataka. It submitted the report two years later.
Ravi hit out at the leader of the opposition in the assembly Siddaramaiah for recently announcing his support for the agitation, calling it a "joke". He pointed out that after the report was submitted, the former chief minister had been in power for the "most period", either as a member of the Janata Dal (U) or the Congress.
"Was he eating groundnuts then (while in power)? Now that he has lost power, he has remembered the Sarojini Mahishi report. Was he sleeping while in power?" he asked.
Siddaramaiah had recently met Kannada outfits agitating for implementation of the report and had extended his full support to them.
Ravi also said the government desired that the medium of instruction should be Kannada, but as the chief minister recently said, it cannot succeed without the cooperation of society.
"The Supreme Court has already said it is the choice of parents to choose the medium of instruction and it cannot be imposed. This has made the government helpless. When we desire that the administration should be in Kannada, without making it compulsory in education, how can it remain in administration?" he asked.
Worried that a situation may arise when the future generations may not be in a position to understand Kannada, he said "without making it (Kannada) compulsory in education, how can it be implemented in administration? It is a complex problem."
The minister said that the government was committed to the promotion of Kannada.
It has been decided to call a meeting of opposition leaders, literary figures, thinkers, regarding filing an appeal for "reexamination" of the Supreme Court decision to explore if there is an opportunity, or else bring in a constitutional amendment taking on board other states, who share the sentiment. He also said several government ministers, including Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, have spoken to those who have called for the bandh on Thursday and tried to convince them against it.
With inputs from agencies
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.
Updated Date: Feb 13, 2020 11:12:56 IST
Tags : Bandh In Bangalore, Bangalore Bandh, Bangalore Bandh Today,Bangalore Central University, Bangalore News, Bangalore Strike, Bangalore University Results, Bengaluru Traffic, BMTC, BS Yediyurappa, High Court Karnataka, Kannada, Karnataka, Karnataka Bandh, Karnataka Bandh 2020,Karnataka Bandh Today, Karnataka Bandh Tomorrow, Karnataka News,Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota, Karnataka Strike, KSRTC, Namma Metro,NewsTracker, Ola Bengaluru, Ola Services, Ola Uber Strike Bangalore, Sarojini Mahishi, Sarojini Mahishi Report, Strike In Bangalore, Tomorrow Bandh In Bangalore
Last edited:
