In India, individuals are often unfairly judged based on their clothing, particularly if they are economically disadvantaged. It’s akin to displaying one’s financial status through attire. This bias represents a dark reality, adding to the challenges faced by those already grappling with poverty. Here’s an example of a person being discriminated on the basis of his clothes in Bengaluru.
In Bengaluru’s Rajajinagar metro station, a poor farmer was denied entry by security personnel because of his attire. The authorities argued that the clothes weren’t clean enough for him to travel in the metro.
A man named Karthik C Airani argued with the authorities and questioned them whether there was any dress code for people to travel in the metro. He fought for the farmer’s basic right to travel via public transport.
“He is a farmer and possesses the required ticket to travel through the metro. He also does not have any items in his sack that are prohibited from bringing into the metro. He only has clothes. On what basis is he being denied entry? Show me a rule which mandates a dress code for commuters of the metro. Is this a transport restricted to the VIPs? It’s public transport,” Airani said to the officials in Kannada, quoted Moneycontrol.
Another commuter came to the farmer’s support and said that he should be denied entry only if he carried belongings that were banned inside the metro. He called it “blatant discrimination”.
A post on this entire incident was shared on X by a user named Deepak. Have a look:
UNBELIEVABLE..! Is metro only for VIPs? Is there a dress code to use Metro?
I appreciate actions of Karthik C Airani, who fought for the right of a farmer at Rajajinagar metro station. We need more such heroes everywhere. @OfficialBMRCL train your officials properly. #metro pic.twitter.com/7SAZdlgAEH— Deepak N (@DeepakN172) February 24, 2024
Several people lauded Karthik for coming to the poor farmer’s help while many others slammed the metro officials for discriminating against a passenger on the basis of their clothing. Here’s what some of them wrote:
Hats off to Karthik C Airani.
What kind of rubbish is this @OfficialBMRCL ?
Isn’t metro a public transport?
You need to have a sensitisation program for your employees. https://t.co/EqeGWqVH7G— Lavanya Ballal Jain (@LavanyaBallal) February 26, 2024
This is Bengaluru & its people,Yes we are the same people that protest for Kannada & we are the same people fight when things happen like this
That fight is for to protect our heritage & culture in our own city & this fight is standing against anything wrong in front of our eyes https://t.co/l4onllIdZ1
— AK (@AK__2207) February 25, 2024
This is the state of the farmers. People keep forgetting that it's because of them we have food on our plates. #farmers https://t.co/Jst25SxeqA
— onemaverick (@maverickone01) February 26, 2024
Bharat is blessed with a billion of such good people.
Pranam to the men who stood up for the poor old man and ensured he got on the metro. https://t.co/7Ld6wbzJoE— K.A.T.A.K.I.Y.A (@AveePDas) February 26, 2024
Strangers helping strangers in need.. despite all the barriers being created by society.. that’s the country I want.. https://t.co/CIIJkodQ4E
— Nitin 😈 (@bon_fyre) February 26, 2024
Such blatant discrimination is absolutely sickening.
Kudos to the men fighting for the farmer. https://t.co/hw2KwvGeoh— Vinayak Mohan (@Vinayakmohan) February 25, 2024
According to reports, after the post went viral, Bengaluru Metro released a statement saying that the security official involved in the incident had been sacked.
Namma Metro is an inclusive public transport. The Rajajinagar incident is probed & the services of the security supervisor is terminated. BMRCL regrets the inconvenience caused to the Passenger.@srivasrbmrccoi1
— ನಮ್ಮ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ (@OfficialBMRCL) February 26, 2024
Further, BMRCL also confirms that the passenger travelled in Namma metro from Rajajinagar to Majestic. Also, an internal committee is constituted for a detailed enquiry headed by Dy. Chief Security Officer. We again regret for the incident. FKI. @srivasrbmrccoi1
— ನಮ್ಮ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ (@OfficialBMRCL) February 26, 2024
What are your views on this incident?