Bengaluru mall that denied entry to dhoti-clad farmer faces temporary closure

PTC News Desk: A week-long closure of a shopping mall in Bengaluru has been ordered by the Karnataka government in response to reports that an elderly farmer was turned away for wearing a dhoti.

Following the social media uproar around the incident at GT World Mall, Byrathi Suresh, the Minister of Urban Development, stated that the legislation permitted such an action.

“I recently had a conversation with a former commissioner of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike.” According to the law, the government is allowed to close the mall for seven days, Suresh said the Karnataka Assembly on Thursday.

A lawsuit was filed against the mall’s owner and security guard on Wednesday under Section 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (wrongful restraint).

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WHAT HAPPENED AT BENGALURU’S GT MALL?

The incident happened on Tuesday night when security guards stopped the old farmer, Fakirappa, and his son at the mall entrance on Magadi Main Road, even though they had movie tickets.

Social media users are furious after a video of the guy and his son pleading with security personnel to let them in went viral. The farmer had travelled to Bengaluru to see his son from the Haveri area of Karnataka. The security personnel could be heard stating that anyone wearing dhotis are not allowed admission into the mall per regulations.

Under Karnataka Congress govt patronage

Farmers are being abused and insulted for wearing Dhoti? Banned entry in a mall!

Karnataka CM wears a dhoti!
Dhoti is our pride.. should farmer wear a tuxedo in a mall?

How is Karnataka Congress allowing this? They are most anti… pic.twitter.com/NvctuwPBpp

— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) July 17, 2024

The security guard refuses to give in, despite their entreaties. According to reports, he also insisted that the farmer put on pants in order to enter the mall.

The BJP also used the matter as an opportunity to criticise the Congress administration; spokeswoman Shehzad Poonawalla referred to the party as “anti-farmer”.

“Farmers are undergoing mistreatment and insults for donning Dhotis under the Karnataka Congress government’s patronage? Entry to a mall was banned! What’s on the Karnataka CM’s dhoti? Our pride is our dhoti. Can a farmer be seen in a mall wearing a tuxedo?” Poonawalla sent a tweet.

“They even deceived farmers and raised the price of diesel.” By refusing farmers admission in Dhoti, they are now demeaning farmers. Is Rahul Baba somewhere? He asked, “Is this Kisan ke saath Nyay?” On Thursday, groups supporting Kannada and farmers also demonstrated against the tragedy.

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