Category: Protest

Auto and Cab Unions Call for Commission-Free, Community-Driven Ride Platforms.

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Karnataka Auto and Cab Drivers Rally Behind ‘Vocal for Local’ Mobility Movement

Bengaluru, October 23, 2025:
In a powerful display of unity, more than 10,000 auto and cab driver unions from Bengaluru, Hubballi, and Mangaluru joined hands to promote the “Vocal for Local” initiative in Karnataka’s mobility sector. The campaign aims to encourage the use of local, transparent, and community-driven ride-hailing platforms that ensure fair earnings and driver independence.

During the press meet, drivers narrated their daily struggles within the existing aggregator ecosystem and underscored the growing need for fair and sustainable alternatives. They emphasized that local platforms not only empower drivers to earn decent livelihoods but also enable them to maintain their vehicles, offer better service, and keep fares stable for passengers.

Raghu, Head of Peace Auto, said, “We want drivers to be treated with dignity and earn enough to sustain their families. Local platforms understand our challenges and help us remain independent—unlike large aggregator apps, where our earnings steadily decline over time.”

The unions pointed out that foreign-based ride-hailing companies often attract drivers with lucrative incentives initially, but these benefits diminish over time, leaving drivers with reduced income and limited welfare support. Local platforms, on the other hand, are designed with fairness, transparency, and driver welfare at their core—ensuring long-term benefits and community growth.

Supporting these homegrown apps, they added, not only secures stable livelihoods for thousands of drivers but also helps retain revenue within the local economy, strengthening Karnataka’s mobility ecosystem.

Prominent leaders who addressed the gathering included Raghu from Peace Auto, Manjunath from Adarsh Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Union, and Toni from KA43 Kannada Chalakara Sangha. Representatives from various driver associations across the state were also present.

The press conference also shed light on the success of open mobility initiatives, the need for commission-free and driver-first platforms, and the crucial role of both citizens and the government in fostering an equitable, locally powered transport ecosystem.

The event concluded with a united call to action—urging the public to adopt and promote the “Vocal for Local Mobility” movement, ensuring fair opportunities for drivers and a sustainable future for Karnataka’s mobility landscape.

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The Freedom Park Protection and Protest Committee has accused civic authorities of “inhuman neglect”,

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Basic facilities razed; activists call it inhuman and undemocratic

Bengaluru, October 13:
The much-publicized Brand Bengaluru project has come under sharp criticism after the Freedom Park redevelopment allegedly turned into a site of suffering for hundreds of peaceful protesters.

The Freedom Park Protection and Protest Committee has accused civic authorities of “inhuman neglect”, stating that toilets were demolished, electricity cut off, and even water connections shut down — leaving demonstrators without basic survival facilities.

Committee President Gandasi Sadananda Swamy, after inspecting the site, minced no words: “This is nothing short of cruelty. Thousands of citizens assemble here daily to raise public issues. Yet, the government has stripped them of the most basic amenities — no toilets, no water, no power. The place now reeks of neglect,” he said.



Swamy warned that the situation is especially unsafe for women protesters. “Freedom Park has become a den for drunkards and drug abusers at night. Women have no safety or privacy. Police hardly patrol the area. Is this how Bengaluru treats its citizens exercising democratic rights?” he questioned.



He demanded the immediate restoration of essential facilities or suspension of protest permissions until redevelopment is complete. “Beautification cannot come at the cost of citizens’ dignity,” Swamy asserted.

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High Court Stays Indefinite Transport Strike Called by Joint Action Committee

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Copy served directly to Sri. Ananthasubbarao -Respondent No. 7

Bengaluru, August 4, 2025: The Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka has issued an order staying the proposed state-wide indefinite strike called by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Trade Unions of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) employees. The order came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Sri Sunil J. and others in W.P. No. 23602/2025 (GM-RES-PIL).

The matter was taken up for hearing earlier today, during which the Court took note of the potential disruption to essential public services. Following deliberations, the Hon’ble High Court directed a stay on the strike action planned by the JAC, which has been named as Respondent No. 7 in the case.

In compliance with the Court’s oral direction, legal counsel for the petitioners, Advocate Ms. Deeksha N. Amruthesh, has formally intimated the Joint Action Committee through a written communication. The letter includes a copy of the writ petition, supporting annexures, and the stay order issued by the Court.

The intimation has been made in the broader interest of the public, highlighting the importance of maintaining uninterrupted public transport services in the state. The matter is expected to come up for further hearing in due course.

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Bank Pensioners to Stage Hunger Strike and Dharna in Bengaluru on August 2

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BENGALURU, August 1, 2025 – The Karnataka unit of the Coordination of Bank Pensioners and Retirees Organisations (CBPRO) will launch a Hunger Strike and Dharna at Freedom Park on August 2, 10Am.This protest is part of CBPRO’s nationwide action programme, which has already seen similar demonstrations in other state capitals and major cities throughout July and August.

Hundreds of former bank employees are expected to participate, pressing the Government of India and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) to address long-standing grievances affecting senior and super-senior banking retirees.

Demands of the Protesters:

1. Periodic Pension Updation
Full implementation of Clause 35.1 of the Bank Employees Pension Regulations, ensuring regular pension revisions on par with central government and RBI pension schemes—overdue for more than 30 years.


2. Inclusion of Special Allowance in Pension
Recognition of Special Allowance for superannuation calculations, restoring the basic pension to the agreed 50% of last drawn basic pay instead of the current 31%.


3. Reimbursement of Medical Insurance Premiums
Restoration of government guidelines by transferring medical insurance premium costs back to banks, rather than imposing them on retirees.


4. Parity for SBI Pensioners
Uniform basic pension of 50% of last drawn pay for SBI retirees, with retrospective effect.


5. Coverage for Initially Excluded Retirees
Inclusion of the fewer than 1,000 bank retirees who missed the original pension option, mirroring RBI’s corrective measures.


6. Ex-Gratia for Private Bank Pensioners
Payment of agreed ex-gratia amounts to private bank retirees, eliminating current discrimination.


7. Ex-Gratia for 2024–25
Release of ex-gratia payments for 2024 and 2025 as per the Settlement/Joint Note with unions.


8. Dearness Allowance Rectification
Resolution of discrepancies in the payment of dearness allowance to pensioners.


9. Reversion to the Old Pension Scheme
Abolition of the New Pension Scheme in favour of the Old Pension Scheme to safeguard serving employees and officers from market-linked uncertainties.


10. Consultative Status for Pensioners’ Organisations
Granting formal negotiation rights to CBPRO and affiliated bodies, respecting the principle of engaging senior citizens in dialogue.



CBPRO Convenor A. N. Krishna Murthy, Joint Convenor K. V. Acharya, and other senior members outlined these demands at a press conference held at the Press Club of Bengaluru. They urged the Government and the IBA to respond promptly and honour the genuine demands of bank pensioners and retirees.

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ದಲಿತ ಪ್ರಾಧ್ಯಾಪಕರಿಗೆ ತಾರತಮ್ಯ: ಕುಲಪತಿಯ ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆಗೆ ಆಗ್ರಹ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಚಂದ್ರು ಪೆರಿಯಾರ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಹಕ್ಕು ಹೋರಾಟಗಾರರಿಂದ ತೀವ್ರ ಆಕ್ರೋಶ

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ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, ಜುಲೈ 15:
ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ದಲಿತ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಪ್ರಾಧ್ಯಾಪಕರಿಗೆ ಭಡ್ತಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಅಧಿಕಾರ ವಹಿಸುವಲ್ಲಿ ತಾರತಮ್ಯ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದು, ಇದು ಹತಾಶೆ ಮೂಡಿಸುವಂತಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂದು ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿ ನಾಯಕ ಚಂದ್ರು ಪೆರಿಯಾರ್ ಆರೋಪಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಮಂಗಳವಾರ ನಗರದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾಗೋಷ್ಠಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರು ಮಾತನಾಡಿ, ಕುಲಪತಿ ಡಾ. ಜಯಕರ ಎಸ್.ಎಂ ಅವರು caste discrimination ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿದೆ. ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಕೂಡಲೇ ಅವರನ್ನು ಅಧಿಕಾರದಿಂದ ವಜಾಗೊಳಿಸಬೇಕು ಅಥವಾ ಅವರು ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆ ನೀಡಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಆಗ್ರಹಿಸಿದರು.

ಆರೋಪಗಳ ಸಾರಾಂಶ:

ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದ ನಿಯಮಿತ ರೋಸ್ಟರ್ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಉಲ್ಲಂಘಿಸಿ, ದಲಿತ ಅಭ್ಯರ್ಥಿಗಳನ್ನು ಬದಿಗೆ ಸರಿಸಿ, ಐವರು ಬಲವಂತದ ಜಾತಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿದ ಪ್ರಾಧ್ಯಾಪಕರನ್ನು ವರ್ಗಾಯಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.

ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದ ಸ್ಥಾಪನೆಯಿಂದ ಇದುವರೆಗೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ದಲಿತರನ್ನು ಕುಲಪತಿಯಾಗಿ ನೇಮಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂಬ ದಾಖಲೆಯಿಲ್ಲ.

ಕುಲಪತಿ ರಜೆಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಾಗ ಅವರ ಸ್ಥಾನಭಾರವನ್ನು ಹಿರಿಯ ಡೀನ್‌ಗೆ ವಹಿಸಬೇಕಾದ ನಿಯಮವಿದ್ದರೂ, ಎಲ್ಲ ಹಿರಿಯ ಡೀನ್‌ಗಳು ದಲಿತ ಸಮುದಾಯದವರಾಗಿರುವ ಕಾರಣ ಅವರನ್ನು ತಿರಸ್ಕರಿಸಿ, ಕುಲಸಚಿವರಿಗೆ ಅಧಿಕಾರ ನೀಡಲಾಗಿದೆ – ಇದು ನಿಯಮ ಉಲ್ಲಂಘನೆಯಲ್ಲದೆ ದಲಿತ ವಿರೋಧಿತ ಮನೋಭಾವವನ್ನೂ ತೋರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

ಕಟ್ಟಡ ನವೀಕರಣದ ನೆಪದಲ್ಲಿ ದಲಿತ ವಿತ್ತಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳ ಅಧಿಕಾರಗಳನ್ನು ಕಡಿತಗೊಳಿಸಿ, ಒಂದೇ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ಅಧಿಕಾರ ವಹಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.

ದಲಿತ ಅತಿಥಿ ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸಕರನ್ನು ಯಾವುದೇ ಕಾರಣವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಕೆಲಸದಿಂದ ತೆಗೆದು, ಹಲವು ತಿಂಗಳುಗಳಿಂದ ಸಂಬಳ ನೀಡದೆ ಅವಮಾನಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಕೆಲವರು ಈ ಕಷ್ಟದಿಂದ ಮಾನಸಿಕವಾಗಿ ಕುಗ್ಗಿ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆ ಪಡೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.


ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಗಳ ಪ್ರತಿಧ್ವನಿ:
ಎಸ್‌ಸಿ/ಎಸ್‌ಟಿ ನೌಕರರ ಸಮಿತಿಯ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಶಿವಶಂಕರ್ ಮಾತನಾಡಿ, “ಈ ವಿವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಎಚ್. ನರಸಿಂಹಯ್ಯ, ಜಿ.ಎಸ್. ಶಿವರುದ್ರಪ್ಪ, ಸಿದ್ದಲಿಂಗಯ್ಯ, ಬರಗೂರು ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರಪ್ಪ ಅವರು ಸಮಾನತೆಯ ಮೌಲ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಬಿತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಆದರೆ ಇಂದಿನ ಆಡಳಿತ ಜಾತಿ ಮತೀಯತೆ ತೋರಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ,” ಎಂದು ವಿಷಾದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದರು.

67ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಪ್ರಾಧ್ಯಾಪಕರು ತಮ್ಮ ಸಹಿಯನ್ನು ನೀಡಿ ವಿವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ತಾರತಮ್ಯವನ್ನು ಖಂಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಆದರೆ ಕುಲಪತಿಯವರು ಇದನ್ನೂ ಲಘುವಾಗಿ ಪರಿಗಣಿಸಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸ್ಪಂದನೆ ನೀಡಿಲ್ಲವೆಂದು ಆರೋಪವಿದೆ.

ಪತ್ರಿಕಾಗೋಷ್ಠಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದ್ದವರು:
ನಟ ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ, ದಲಿತ ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳ ಸಮಿತಿಯ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ರಾಜಣ್ಣ, ಜ್ಞಾನೇಶ್ವರ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಹಲವು ಹಕ್ಕು ಹೋರಾಟಗಾರರು ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು.

ಒತ್ತಾಯ:
ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾನಿಲಯದ ಆಡಳಿತ ಕಳೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ನೈತಿಕತೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಜಾತಿ ತಾರತಮ್ಯದ ಕುರಿತು ಸರ್ಕಾರ ತನಿಖೆ ನಡೆಸಿ ಕಠಿಣ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು ಎಂಬುದು ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನಾಕಾರರ ಒಗ್ಗಟ್ಟಿನ ಆಗ್ರಹ.

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