Processions throw traffic out of gear in City

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, DEC. 20. The traffic on important roads in the City was disrupted on Wednesday following the processions taken out by the workers of the BGML in Kolar Gold Fields and Mysore Lamps, and a Dalit Sangarsha Samiti (DSS) group.

A number of employees of the BGML and their family members assembled at a high-school ground in Cantonment area and took out a procession that passed through busy roads to the Vidhana Soudha. In the evening, they squatted on Cubbon Road. Over 300 police personnel, including those from the special striking force, were deployed to prevent untoward incidents. Some of them were seen appealing to the workers not to disrupt traffic.

The procession was organised by the Republican Party of India (RPI). The protesters were demanding establishment of another industry in KGF, rehabilitation of 4,000 workers, and payment of Rs. 4 lakhs as compensation to each of them. The employees of the BEML also participated in the rally.

Several leaders, including Mr. R.S.Gavai, MP, Mr. S.Rajendran, former MLA, Mr. Shivaramji Mogha, Vice-President of RPI, Mr. K.Dorai Swamy, President of the party State unit, Mr. V.Thannimalai, Mr. O.Ramadass and Mr. Avinash Dutta Katti, met the Chief Minister, Mr. S.M.Krishna, and submitted a memorandum to him.

A procession organised by a Dalit Sangharsha Samiti group, which started from the Mysore Bank Circle and culminated at ``Krishna'', the home office of the Chief Minister, disrupted vehicle movement at K.R.Circle, Maharani College Circle, Basaveswara Circle, Cresent Road and Shivananda Circle.

Mr. Krishna met the leaders of the samiti and received their memorandum demanding protection of dalits, especially women, and development activities in their benefit.

The employees of the State-owned Mysore Lamp Works came to the Mr. Krishna's residence in a procession. They met the Minister for Major and Medium-Scale Industries, Mr. R.V.Deshpande. They demanded that the Government should close down the factory.

Many senior police officers said that it was time the Government banned processions in the City. They said the processions had a telling effect on their other duties.

The Government banned processions and dharnas in front of the Gopala Gowda Circle around Vidhana Soudha some years ago, following a law and order problem caused by a procession.

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