BENGALURU: Over one lakh people from the Maadiga Community were in Bengaluru on Monday, blocking the entire Anand Rao flyover and surrounding areas while pressing the state government to meet their demand of implementing Justice A J Sadashiva commission recommendations. The protesters also demanded a separate Maadiga welfare board in the state.
The protest rally was supposed to start at 11am and get over by 1pm. But the protesters did not leave the place till until late night. They were still there at 8pm. Sheshadri Road, where Anand Rao Circle flyover is located, is the main connecting stretch between the city’s south-to-east and west-to-east. More than 1 lakh community members from every district of the state came to Bengaluru. Some came by train and walked till Freedom Park, while others came by KSRTC buses and private vehicles. There were at least 5,000 vehicles which were parked in and around the Freedom Park area.
“Our people are sitting on the flyover. We will not leave till our demands are met,’’ Adijambava Siddaraju, one of the leaders of Karnataka Maadiga Federation, told Express. Later in the day, Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya met the protesters and assured them that a meeting would be called on December 30. However, the protesters demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramiah come and assure them.
Private and KSRTC vehicles bringing protesters to the city, were parked at Gandhinagar, Chalukya Circle, Raj Bhavan Road near Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park and other places, blocking traffic movement. The traffic congestion was so severe that gridlocks were experienced at Sheshadripuram, Gandhinagar, Okalipuram, Chalukya Circle, Race Course Road, Palace Road, Shivananda Circle, Goodshed Road and other places.
At most of the places, traffic police were missing. In a few places, despite the presence of traffic police personnel, it was a huge struggle for them to manage the traffic. Incidents of road rage were witnessed at several places. “At some points, public got down from the vehicles and were managing the traffic,’’ Sharmila R, a motorist said. Arun Kumar H V, who owns a private firm, said it took him more than 90 minutes from Sujatha Theatre to Mantri Mall, which is hardly 3km distance.
Sheshadri Road blocked 6 times this yr
l January 2017: More than 1,000 Cab drivers staged one day protest
l March 2017: Over 10KAnganwadi workers protested for two days
l March 2017: Around 2,000 guest lecturers staged protest for a day
l July 2017: Thousands of people working with the IT firms who were given pink slips, staged a protest for one day
l September 2017: Over 8,000 Asha workers staged protest for 2 days.
l December 2017: Over one lakh Maadiga Community people sat on Ananda Rao flyover.