Pourakarmikas, street vendors seek apology from Krishna Byre Gowda over ‘insulting’ remarks

Calling Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda’s remarks against pourakarmikas an “insult” and “humiliation of workers”, pourakarmikas and street vendors have demanded that the Minister apologise to them, and accused the government of siding with contractors instead of those who clean the city.

In an open letter addressed to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Mr. Gowda, the workers asked why a government that came to power on the votes of the poor was treating them “with such contempt”.

The letter and the backlash came after Mr. Gowda questioned the regularisation of contract pourakarmikas while pointing to an attendance of only 70% in some wards.