PIL seeks public entry to Gandhi memorial in hotel

A public interest litigation has been filed in the high court challenging restrictions on the public from visiting the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial within Hotel Lalit Ashok premises.

The petitioner Samarpana, a voluntary organisation, stated that Gandhi, during his visit to Bangalore in 1927, had conducted a public meeting in the area which is today called the Kumara Krupa Road, Kumara Park East. A memorial was built at the same place. There is also a tree called Jyothi Vriksh where Gandhi had held a prayer meeting.

The petitioner further states that at the place where the memorial is located, stands Hotel Lalit Ashok, a private hotel which was taken on lease from the Government of India which earlier owned the hotel called Hotel Ashok ITDC.

The petitioner adds that every time people visited the memorial, there was a clash between the security personnel of the hotel and the visitors. Following this, a representation was given to the state government on August 7, 2018, seeking directions to permit the public to visit the memorial. However, no concrete action was taken.