4 days ago
For Congress' vote theft protest, Freedom Park wall demolished for ramp; BJP files complaint
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Bengaluru: BJP Tuesday submitted a complaint at Upparpet police station accusing Congress of demolishing a portion of the boundary wall at Freedom Park and cutting trees to build a ramp for Rahul Gandhi's protest rally scheduled for Friday.
The rally is to protest alleged vote theft during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has been preparing the venue for the protest at Freedom Park and had erected a massive stage on the covered space atop the multi-level car parking complex in Gandhinagar.
BJP alleged that a portion of the park's compound wall was demolished to make way for a ramp and claimed videos have surfaced of chopped trees and branches being carted away on trucks.
Sapthagiri Gowda, BJP's Bengaluru Central district president, said in the complaint that organisers did not obtain permission from relevant authorities before demolishing the wall, which amounts to damaging public property. A separate complaint was submitted on tree-felling.
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"Congress has misused its power and inconvenienced the public," Gowda alleged. Shashikumar, BBMP chief engineer (west zone), said he was unaware of the development.
"I will have to verify with the executive engineer," he said.
Meanwhile, although deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar had earlier directed authorities that no political banners — not even those belonging to Congress — should be allowed within city limits, a stretch from Sheshadri Road to KR Circle was lined with towering hoardings featuring Shivakumar himself, chief minister Siddaramaiah, and senior Congress functionaries including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
The banners were erected as part of a rally on Friday by Rahul and other senior Congressmen to protest alleged vote theft during the Lok Sabha elections.
Suralkar Vikas Kishor, BBMP commissioner (West Zone), confirmed no formal application was received to put up the banners. "We will identify persons or agencies behind this and fine them regardless of political affiliation," he said. "There is no provision to place any type of banner in Bengaluru's public spaces."
Under BBMP's recently notified Advertisement Bylaws 2024, banners and cutouts are allowed only in select zones based on road width. The situation has sparked criticism of possible selective enforcement of rules. Several residents voiced concerns over the visual clutter and suggested motorists were at risk. "It's hard to ignore these massive portraits while driving," said one commuter. "If these are illegal, why aren't they being removed?"
