Dear Industry Captains in Bengaluru,
Greetings from a Whitefield citizen. Without beating around the bush, I’ll straight away get into the topic.
I’m going down the memory lane. In May 2008, when the news of the new BIAL airport opening and shutting down of HAL had surfaced, there was a lot of noise from industries. The highlight was that all of you, the Bengaluru-based IT-BT industry captains, had come out in full force and protested the closure of HAL airport according to this report. The distance to the new airport and the time taken to commute to the airport was what bothered you.
Now, in 2015, BIAL is in Indian partner’s hands. We haven’t heard any murmurs since GVK took over the operations from the German operator. Since 2008, civic infrastructure in the Bengaluru has just broken down. Traffic situation in Bengaluru city has gone from bad to worse. Garbage crisis is waiting for an epidemic to explode. India’s first electrified city is now going without power for hours. Power, garbage, potholes, water, pollution—what is fine in Bengaluru city? BBMP, BDA, BWSSB, BESCOM, BMTC, IDD /UDD, DULT—all the GOK agencies are found wanting in even mitigating the worsening situation.
Yes, the blame is not on you. We have inept governments since 2008, that they can’t even address issues that don’t need a lot of money or time. Result is we are in far worse condition than we were in 2008.
In democracy, if persuasion doesn’t work, the only option left for the ordinary citizens is to hold demonstrations, protests and peaceful strikes. We Bengalureans being very soft and gentle, strikes being proprietary of left front factory unions, are out of bounds for us. Therefore, a protest is the only option that is left for us now.
On November 30th, 2015, people from Whitefield are organizing a protest against the decaying state of infrastructure. This is a real test for all those social media savvy, who are fed up with posting their frustrations on Facebook and Twitter to come out and protest on the street. Yes, it is a Monday, working day.
I can only make a humble request that you all will join in full force to support this protest. Please demonstrate that your concerns will not stop at BIAL airport. Is it too much to ask for a liberal leave on November 30th, for your employees who will participate in this protest?
Please show your support to improve infrastructure in Bengaluru.
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I fail to understand how protests will help. People have died due to the potholes and yet no one cares. As long as we feed the monster, we can not expect change. And the monster came in via election fraud, so no use complaining now.