Category: Protest

Transport Unions Call ‘Bengaluru Chalo’ Protest on Feb 19, Over 10,000 Workers Likely to Gather

Posted on by City Today News (City today.media)

Bengaluru: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of employees’ unions from four state-run transport corporations, including the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), has announced a massive “Bengaluru Chalo” protest on February 19, pressing for the clearance of long-pending salary arrears and implementation of wage revision.

The protest, which was earlier deferred following the demise of veteran transport leader Comrade Ananth Subbarao, will now go ahead without further postponement, union leaders asserted at a press conference on Monday. More than 10,000 employees are expected to assemble at Freedom Park.

Prominent leaders, including Vijay Bhaskar of the KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation, Jayadeva Rajee Aras of the Akhila Karnataka State Road Transport Employees Federation, H.R. Jagadeesh of the Karnataka State Road Transport Employees Union, Gandasi Sadananda Swamy of Vishwa Karmikara Koota, and Rajendra Gowda, warned of an intensified agitation if demands remain unmet.

The unions are demanding release of 38 months’ wage arrears from January 1, 2020 to February 28, 2023, and implementation of a revised pay scale effective January 1, 2024, along with a four-year wage settlement. They allege that despite repeated assurances during earlier rounds of talks, including ahead of Deepavali and in August 2025, the government has failed to act.

While no official directive has been issued to suspend bus services, unions cautioned that operations may be affected if employees abstain from duty. With the combined debt of the four corporations reportedly crossing ₹7,000 crore, workers insist the government must urgently address their financial and service-related concerns.

City Today News 9341997936

Urgent Call to Enact Rohith Vemula Act as Campaign Alleges Delay by Karnataka Government

Posted on by City Today News (City today.media)

Bengaluru: A coalition of civil society groups, student unions, academics and lawyers under the banner Campaign for Rohith Act has urged the Karnataka government to immediately release the draft of the proposed Rohith Vemula Act for public consultation and commit to a clear timeline for its enactment.

The campaign has alleged that higher educational institutions are increasingly becoming hostile spaces for Dalit and Adivasi students, leading to rising dropouts and instances of suicides. It claimed that despite constitutional guarantees and reservations, many SC/ST students continue to face humiliation, exclusion and systemic discrimination within campuses.

The group expressed concern that existing legal safeguards, including the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the UGC Equity Regulations, 2026, have not adequately addressed caste-based discrimination in higher education.

The demand for a dedicated law gained momentum after senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called for such legislation, following which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah publicly assured in April 2025 that Karnataka would enact a Rohith Vemula Act. The Congress had also promised the legislation in its 2024 election manifesto.

According to the campaign, a model Bill was drafted after extensive consultations with student organisations, teachers and legal experts and was submitted to Minister Priyank Kharge in December 2025. Subsequent discussions were held with Law Minister H. K. Patil and Higher Education Minister M. C. Sudhakar, and the government reportedly accepted the draft with minor revisions.

On January 17, 2026, Rahul Gandhi stated that the state was in the process of implementing the Act. However, the draft has not yet been made public, nor has a legislative schedule been announced, prompting concern among SC/ST students across the state.

The Campaign has now demanded at the press meet held at press club of bengaluru, under the Leadership of Mavalli Shankar DSS leader,Basavaraj kowthal, Hulikunte Murthy,Vinay Shrinivas,Lekha,Ashna Singh and Rahul is, immediate release of the draft Bill, a clear timeline for its introduction in the Assembly, and its passage during the Budget Session of 2026, calling it a crucial step toward ensuring dignity, equality and justice in Karnataka’s universities and colleges.

City Today News 9341997936

‘ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣೆ’ ಹೆಸರಿನ ಶೋಷಣೆ: ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆಯಲ್ಲಿ IBCA ಶೃಂಗಸಭೆಗೆ ತೀವ್ರ ವಿರೋಧ

Posted on by City Today News (City today.media)

ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆ ಕಾಡುಗಳು ಜೇನುಕುರುಬ, ಬೆಟ್ಟಕುರುಬ, ಪಣಿಯ ಮತ್ತು ಯರವ ಸಮುದಾಯಗಳ ಪೂರವಜರ ನೆಲೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಕಳೆದ 160 ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ನಿರಂತರ ಅನ್ಯಾಯಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾಗುತ್ತಿವೆ ಎಂದು ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆ ಆದಿವಾಸಿ ಜಮ್ಮ ಪಾಳೆ ಹಕ್ಕು ಸ್ಥಾಪನ ಸಮಿತಿ (ಎನ್‌ಎಜೆಎಚ್‌ಎಸ್‌ಎಸ್) ಆರೋಪಿಸಿದೆ. ಅಂತಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಬಿಗ್ ಕ್ಯಾಟ್ ಅಲಯನ್ಸ್ (ಐಬಿಸಿಎ) ಶೃಂಗಸಭೆಯನ್ನು ‘ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣೆ’ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿನ ಶೋಷಕ ಅಜೆಂಡಾ ಎಂದು ಸಮಿತಿ ತೀವ್ರವಾಗಿ ಖಂಡಿಸಿದೆ.

ಪತ್ರಿಕಾಗೋಷ್ಠಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದ ಮುಖಂಡರು, ಹುಲಿ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಿತ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳ ಘೋಷಣೆಗಳು ಗ್ರಾಮಸಭೆಗಳ ಮುಕ್ತ ಮತ್ತು ತಿಳಿದ ಒಪ್ಪಿಗೆಯಿಲ್ಲದೆ ನಡೆದಿವೆ ಎಂದು ಆರೋಪಿಸಿದರು. ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ದೇಶದ 58 ಹುಲಿ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಿತ ವಲಯಗಳು ಮೂಲ ನಿವಾಸಿಗಳ ಪೂರವಜರ ಭೂಮಿಗಳಲ್ಲೇ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣವಾಗಿವೆ ಎಂದರು. ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಹುಲಿ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣಾ ಪ್ರಾಧಿಕಾರ ಹಾಗೂ ಪರಿಸರ, ಅರಣ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಹವಾಮಾನ ಬದಲಾವಣೆ ಸಚಿವಾಲಯದ ನೀತಿಗಳು ಬಲವಂತದ ಸ್ಥಳಾಂತರಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾರಣವಾಗಿವೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಅವರ ಆರೋಪ.

2026ರ ಜನವರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಯುಕ್ತ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಗಳ ಸಿಇಆರ್‌ಡಿ ಸಮಿತಿಯು ಭಾರತ ಸರ್ಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದರೂ ಯಾವುದೇ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಇಲ್ಲವೆಂದು ಸಮಿತಿ ಅಸಮಾಧಾನ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿತು. ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆ ಮೂಲ ನಿವಾಸಿಗಳ ಪವಿತ್ರ ನೆಲವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಗೌರವ ಹಾಗೂ ಘನತೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ನಡೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ಕ್ಲಬ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ಗೋಷ್ಠಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮನವಿ ಮಾಡಲಾಯಿತು.

City Today News 9341997936

Bike Taxis in the DockUnions Cite MV Act, SC RulingsSeek PM’s Immediate Intervention

Posted on by City Today News (City today.media)

Driver Unions Seek PM’s Intervention Against Bike Taxis

Bengaluru: Opposing the operation of bike taxis, two major driver unions have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene, stating that the service poses serious safety risks and threatens the livelihoods of traditional transport workers.

The Indian Vehicles Driver Trade Union and the Snehajeevi Drivers Trade Union, in a letter to the Prime Minister, said bike taxis are creating severe difficulties for auto, taxi and goods vehicle drivers who operate under existing legal and regulatory frameworks.

The unions argued that the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 does not provide any clear or explicit provision permitting bike taxis. They maintained that using two-wheelers—vehicles that lack essential safety features—for commercial passenger transport endangers public safety. Accident data, they claimed, shows a significantly higher probability of mishaps involving bike taxis.
Citing Supreme Court rulings, the unions pointed out that holding a licence is not a fundamental right and that state governments have the authority to regulate transport systems in the interest of public welfare and road safety.

They warned that allowing bike taxis would not only increase road accidents but also severely impact the livelihoods of auto and taxi drivers who comply with licensing norms and pay taxes. More than five lakh driver families in the state could face economic hardship if bike taxis are permitted, the unions said.

The demand for immediate central intervention was made by Mr Gandasi Sadananda Swamy, president of the Indian Vehicles Driver Trade Union; Mr Snehajeevi Santosh Kumar, president of the Snehajeevi Drivers Trade Union; and Mr Raju Kannadiga, state general secretary, according to a press release.

City Today News 9341997936

ಕನಿಷ್ಠ ವೇತನವೇ ಇಲ್ಲದ ‘ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಕಂಬ’: ಅಂಗನವಾಡಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತೆಯರ ಹೋರಾಟ ಹೈಕೋರ್ಟ್ ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲೇರಿತು

Posted on by City Today News (City today.media)

ಯೋಜನೆಗಳ ಭಾರ ಹೊರುವ ಕೈಗಳಿಗೆ ನ್ಯಾಯ ಯಾವಾಗ? ಅಂಗನವಾಡಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತೆಯರ ಕಾನೂನು ಹೋರಾಟ.

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, ಫೆಬ್ರವರಿ 4, 2026:
ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಯೋಜನೆಗಳ ಭಾರವನ್ನು ಹೊತ್ತುಕೊಂಡಿರುವ ಅಂಗನವಾಡಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತೆಯರು ಮತ್ತು ಸಹಾಯಕಿಯರಿಗೆ ಇನ್ನೂ ಕನಿಷ್ಠ ವೇತನವೇ ಇಲ್ಲದಿರುವುದು ಯಾವ ನ್ಯಾಯ ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿ, ಅವರನ್ನು ಸಿ ಮತ್ತು ಡಿ ದರ್ಜೆಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ನೌಕರರಾಗಿ ಪರಿಗಣಿಸಬೇಕೆಂದು ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸಿ, ಅಂಗನವಾಡಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತೆಯರು ಮತ್ತು ಸಹಾಯಕಿಯರ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ಸಂಘಟನೆಯು ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಹಾಗೂ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರಗಳ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಹೈಕೋರ್ಟ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ಅರ್ಜಿ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದೆ.
ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಯೋಜನೆಗಳ ಕೀಲುಬಾಗಿಲಾಗಿರುವ ಅಂಗನವಾಡಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತೆಯರನ್ನು ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ‘ಗೌರವಧನ’ದ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರ್ಲಕ್ಷ್ಯ ಮಾಡಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾತ್ರ ಶಾಶ್ವತ, ಆದರೆ ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳು ತಾತ್ಕಾಲಿಕ—ಈ ವೈರುಧ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಉತ್ತರ ನೀಡುವವರು ಯಾರು ಎಂಬ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯನ್ನು ಸಂಘಟನೆ ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯದ ಮುಂದಿಟ್ಟಿದೆ.

ಈ ವೇಳೆ ಸಂಘಟನೆಯ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷೆ ಬಿ. ಪ್ರೇಮ, ರಾಜ್ಯ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ಉಮಾಮಣಿ ಕೆ. ಎಲ್, ಕೋಶಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ವಿಶಾಲಾಕ್ಷಿ, ಉಪಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷೆ ನಿರ್ಮಲ, ಸಹಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ಪ್ರೇಮಾ ಹಾಗೂ ವಕೀಲ ಗೌತಮ್ ಚಂದ್ ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು.

City Today News 9341997936