Karnataka rights groups urge PM Modi to skip road show, propose new route map

Two rights groups in Karnataka, Bahutva Karnataka and Eddelu Karnataka, have prepared an alternative route map, known as the “citizens’ route map,” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming road show in Bengaluru as part of the BJP’s election campaign. The groups have urged Modi to avoid the road show and instead visit the “sites of injustices” in the city.

They also called for Modi to conduct a ‘Jan Ki Baat’ press meet.

Here is the full text of the route map:

Karnataka is having a state election. We will vote on what the current government has done and not done for the state. We do not know why your party is asking for votes in the name of the Prime Minister and not the Chief Minister. We do not know why you need to come do a road show here, for which lots of trees have had branches cut, street vendors prevented from doing business and roads blocked.

Given you are coming, we would like you to go to these spots.

Please follow the citizen’s route map and answer these questions.

Day 1 – Visit the sites of Injustice

Day 2- Stay in Freedom Park

Detailed Schedule

1) Shivaram Karanth layout – Ignoring the demands of farmers for fair compensation, Karnataka government destroyed standing crops. Gave notices to farmers preventing from protesting!

Q: How will you double the income of farmers when you won’t even let them farm?

2) ITI where workers were laid off for unionising, which is their right. This comes under your government and your minister turned a deaf ear.

Q: Why is the Contract Labour (abolition and regulation) Act 1970 not followed by your government?

3) Jayanagar BDA Complex – The BBMP violated the Street Vendors Act 2014 by evicting 300+ vendors without even giving notice? Not just that , the government has refused to conduct a survey of street vendors.

Q: Why does your government refuse to protect the rights of Street Vendors?

4) Ejipura EWS quarters where the Yeddyurappa government gave this land on a platter to BJP MLA Mr. Garudachar who has still failed to construct houses. The Lokayukta recommended to the BBMP to take back the land but the government has not done so.

Q: Why is your government helping builders at the cost of slum dwellers?

5) Electronic City – In the Electronic city police station limits, terrorist Puneeth Kerehalli used a stun gun on a citizen and broadcast it live. Yet no action was taken.

Q: Does your government not believe in rule of law? Can anyone use stun guns publicly?

Lunchbreak : You can have lunch at the closest Indira canteen you get and answer why the state government has cut funds for this pro-poor canteen

6) Majestic bus stand. Please ask bus commuters about the troubles they face. In 2018 your party manifesto promised doubling of bus fleet. Instead out of the 6500 buses, only 5600 are on road as your government has stopped hiring of drivers.

Q: Does your government want to weaken or strengthen BMTC?

7) Cottonpet police station – A dalit youth was killed in police custody here. Atrocities against Dalits are at an all time high and convictions at an all time low.

Q: Does your government not care for the welfare of Dalits?

8) Mahadevapura where Powrakarmikas stay in tents and had their houses flooded and damaged due to rain. Powrakarmikas are struggling as your government promised to regularize powrakarmikas but back-tracked and cheated them.

Q: Does the labout of Dalit- Bahujan women not count?

9) Visit any of the new Namma Clinics set up by your government or PHCs.

Q: Why do the public health facilities not have enough medicines or staff?

10) Devanahalli, where farmers who are protesting land acquisition had cases filed against them because the protest was not at Freedom Park.

Q: Why does your government stifle every protesting voice? Do farmers not have freedom of speech and expression under your government ?

Day 2

Please stay only in Freedom park. When citizens are restricted to Freedom Park for protests, when our rallies are not allowed, why should politicians be able to roam around everywhere ?

Please conduct a press meet there and also listen to Jan ki Baat.

Please allow any and all citizens to come and ask you questions.