A distressing incident has come to light from an apartment complex in K.R. Puram, Bengaluru, where workers have alleged harassment and threats of termination simply for celebrating Kannada Rajyotsava. The incident has sparked outrage, raising serious questions about the freedom to celebrate local culture within the state of Karnataka.
The Incident: Celebration Turns Into Conflict
On November 30, the housekeeping staff and workers of an apartment in K.R. Puram organized a Kannada Rajyotsava celebration to honor the state's heritage. The workers, many of whom have been serving the apartment complex for over two years, reportedly held the event with pride and cultural spirit.
However, the joy was short-lived. The workers claim that the Apartment Management Committee, specifically a Secretary originally from Odisha, took offense at the celebration.
Allegations of Harassment and "Domination"
The workers have leveled several serious allegations against the management:
- Threats of Termination: Employees claim they are being threatened with job loss specifically because they participated in the Kannada festival.
- Corporate Pressure: The management reportedly sent emails to the housekeeping agency and the contracting company, demanding action against the workers and creating an environment of "torture."
- Targeting Locals: Workers allege that they are being unfairly targeted by non-local management members, leading to claims of linguistic and cultural discrimination.
A Plea for Justice
Heartbreaking footage and reports have surfaced showing the workers pleading for help. "We have been working here faithfully for two years. Now, they are threatening to remove us just because we celebrated our state's festival," lamented one worker.
The laborers have reached out to local authorities and pro-Kannada organizations, requesting intervention and protection against what they describe as the "high-handedness" of the apartment's administration.
The Growing Tension
This incident highlights an increasing friction in Bengaluru’s cosmopolitan landscape regarding the mandatory or voluntary celebration of local culture. While Karnataka law encourages the hoisting of the Kannada flag and celebrations in various institutions, this case in K.R. Puram serves as a grim reminder of the challenges faced by local laborers in private residential spaces.
