Bengaluru’s GT Mall is facing a seven-day closure order from the Karnataka government following an incident where an elderly farmer was denied entry for wearing a dhoti. The decision was announced by Karnataka Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh during the ongoing assembly session, citing strict action against the mall management for their discriminatory policy.
The controversy erupted when a viral video showed 70-year-old Fakeerappa, accompanied by his son Nagaraj, being barred from entering the mall despite holding valid movie tickets. According to reports, mall security cited a policy that prohibits entry to individuals wearing dhotis, prompting Nagaraj to share the incident on social media and call for government intervention.
Addressing the assembly, Minister Byrathi Suresh emphasized, “According to the law, the government can shut the mall for seven days. I spoke to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officers, and the mall will be closed for seven days as an action against the incident.”
The decision was welcomed by assembly speaker UT Khader, who urged immediate implementation of the closure order.
In response to the incident, local farmer unions organized protests outside GT Mall, demanding an apology from the management. Actress and model Gauahar Khan also condemned the incident on social media, calling it “absolutely shameful” and urging authorities to take strict action to uphold cultural respect.
This incident echoes a previous controversy at a Bengaluru metro station, where a man was similarly denied entry due to his attire, leading to suspensions within the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).
Sources By Agencies