<p>Dissent and democracy go hand-in-hand. In the era of misinformation complemented by political conformists, dissenters serve as a ray of hope. In a span of just one and a half years, a tsunami of people swarmed the streets across the country, protesting for one or the other reason. Bengaluru, after New Delhi, is perhaps the most politically active metropolitan city; and Bengalureans do not shy away from taking to the streets if things seem to go off the track.</p>.<p>Here are five recent instances when Bengalureans took to the streets.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">In solidarity with Disha Ravi</span></strong></p>.<p>Delhi Police arrested a 21-year-old climate change activist Disha Ravi, alleging that she shared the toolkit document with internationally acclaimed Swedish environmental activist – Greta Thunberg. Ravi has been booked for sedition, promoting enmity, and criminal conspiracy among other offenses. On Sunday, a protest took off in the evening at Mysore Bank Circle which soon turned into a mass gathering, with people standing in solidarity with the young activist.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Against the rising fuel prices</span></strong></p>.<p>The crude oil prices in the world are comparatively lower in 2021; however, the fuel prices in the country are at a whopping all-time high. In Bengaluru, the petrol and diesel prices are touching a mark of Rs 93.21 per litre and Rs 85.44 per litre, respectively. A protest was organised against fuel price hike by the members of Karnataka Rig Owners Association at Nagarbhavi in Bengaluru. The members got together forming a chain along with their bore-well drilling service vehicles on February 16.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">In support of the farmers</span></strong></p>.<p>More than 10,000 people took to the streets of Bengaluru expressing their dissent against the three corporate favouring farm laws legislated by the government. More than 125 tractors and hundreds of vehicles swarmed the streets of Bengaluru on January 27. The protest was peaceful; however, the traffic situation in the city was affected.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Protests at Wistron plant</span></strong></p>.<p>Angry over low wages and additional working shifts, workers staged a protest at Apple Inc.’s iPhone manufacturing plant on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Apple’s manufacturing plant run by Taiwanese giant Wistron Corporations reported a loss of 52 Cr after angry workers vandalised the manufacturing unit.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">The anti CAA-NRC protests</span></strong></p>.<p>This was the first time since India’s independence that the city witnessed over 82 major protests. In late 2019 and early 2020 Bengalureans took to the streets against the absurd Citizenship Amendment Act.</p>.<p>When viewed in combination with the government’s intent to compile a National Register of Citizens, being a Muslim and document-less could deprive one of Indian citizenship. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on February 11 that as soon as Covid-19 vaccination will end, granting citizenship to refugees under CAA will begin.</p>
<p>Dissent and democracy go hand-in-hand. In the era of misinformation complemented by political conformists, dissenters serve as a ray of hope. In a span of just one and a half years, a tsunami of people swarmed the streets across the country, protesting for one or the other reason. Bengaluru, after New Delhi, is perhaps the most politically active metropolitan city; and Bengalureans do not shy away from taking to the streets if things seem to go off the track.</p>.<p>Here are five recent instances when Bengalureans took to the streets.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">In solidarity with Disha Ravi</span></strong></p>.<p>Delhi Police arrested a 21-year-old climate change activist Disha Ravi, alleging that she shared the toolkit document with internationally acclaimed Swedish environmental activist – Greta Thunberg. Ravi has been booked for sedition, promoting enmity, and criminal conspiracy among other offenses. On Sunday, a protest took off in the evening at Mysore Bank Circle which soon turned into a mass gathering, with people standing in solidarity with the young activist.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Against the rising fuel prices</span></strong></p>.<p>The crude oil prices in the world are comparatively lower in 2021; however, the fuel prices in the country are at a whopping all-time high. In Bengaluru, the petrol and diesel prices are touching a mark of Rs 93.21 per litre and Rs 85.44 per litre, respectively. A protest was organised against fuel price hike by the members of Karnataka Rig Owners Association at Nagarbhavi in Bengaluru. The members got together forming a chain along with their bore-well drilling service vehicles on February 16.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">In support of the farmers</span></strong></p>.<p>More than 10,000 people took to the streets of Bengaluru expressing their dissent against the three corporate favouring farm laws legislated by the government. More than 125 tractors and hundreds of vehicles swarmed the streets of Bengaluru on January 27. The protest was peaceful; however, the traffic situation in the city was affected.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Protests at Wistron plant</span></strong></p>.<p>Angry over low wages and additional working shifts, workers staged a protest at Apple Inc.’s iPhone manufacturing plant on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Apple’s manufacturing plant run by Taiwanese giant Wistron Corporations reported a loss of 52 Cr after angry workers vandalised the manufacturing unit.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">The anti CAA-NRC protests</span></strong></p>.<p>This was the first time since India’s independence that the city witnessed over 82 major protests. In late 2019 and early 2020 Bengalureans took to the streets against the absurd Citizenship Amendment Act.</p>.<p>When viewed in combination with the government’s intent to compile a National Register of Citizens, being a Muslim and document-less could deprive one of Indian citizenship. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on February 11 that as soon as Covid-19 vaccination will end, granting citizenship to refugees under CAA will begin.</p>
