Walkers’ stir on Dec 6

Walkers’ stir on Dec 6
Bangalore, Dec 3, DHNS:

The Horticulture Department’s move to introduce identity cards for walkers at Lalbagh and Cubbon Park continues to draw peoples’ ire.


A protest against the department’s proposed move will be held near Kuvempu statue at Lalbagh West Gate at 7:30 am on December 6.

In a press release, Y Jayaram, President, Lalbagh Walkers’ Forum alleged that Minister for Horticulture Umesh Katti had ‘backtracked’ from his promise of not levying any fee or making identity cards mandatory for walkers at Lalbagh and Cubbon Park, at a meeting with the walkers’ representatives on November 19. He termed the minister’s insistence on making identity cards mandatory for the walkers as ‘betrayal’.

He maintained that the minister was “bent upon depriving the citizens of the unpolluted air, in the guise of security concerns.” He said that as for ensuring security, the Government could use metal detectors and scanners at the entrance gates itself.

He the termed the move as an attempt at ‘privatisation’ of unpolluted air. Senior citizens, former judges, education experts and leaders of various organisations will take part in the protest.