'Why are citizens treated like subjects and third class people?': Anger over Bengaluru police blocking roads for Governor's convoy

'VIP movement causes unnecessary pain to normal citizens. VIPs should also move with traffic," one wrote. "I have encountered governor convoy multiple times, hardly they take 10 min...Blaming police who work tirelessly without checking facts is not good,' read another.

Internet users are reacting to the recent incident in which a Bengaluru man sat on the middle of a busy road expressing his frustration over a 30-minute road block. Several comments surfaced in his support and questioned the city police blocking roads for Governor's convoy.

Bengaluru Police through a social media post on 'X' urged the public to verify facts before sensationalising issues, saying an inquiry has found that a man seen in a viral video was travelling alone.

Industrialist Mohandas Pai reposting Bengaluru police's post and questioned, "The issue is why was traffic blocked for 30 Mts? @CPBlr @DgpKarnataka why this overreach? Why are citizens treated like subjects and third class people like this? We are a democracy governed by runs of law and egalitarian. @DrParameshwara our Minister should review process to protect citizens who are his voters." Bengaluru Police Commissioner, DG & IGP Karnataka. Head of Police Force, Karnataka State, and Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara were tagged in the post.

"Old Airport Road is already choking under underpass construction. Today, traffic was completely halted for nearly 30 minutes due to the Governor’s movement. A man carrying his pregnant wife was stuck in the gridlock. When will public convenience matter as much as VIP convenience," posted an X user named Prajval Prince.

His post received response from the city traffic police.

"Verify the facts before sensationalising, spreading false news"

ACP East Traffic reinforced that road travel priority is always given to ambulances and medical emergency cases.

"Enquiry was done and it was found that the concerned person was travelling alone. We want to reiterate that in any situation during road travel priority is always given to ambulances and medical emergency cases," the traffic police handle posted.

It was further urged that citizens verify facts before spreading false news.

"Public is requested to verify the facts before sensationalising/spreading any issue. Appropriate legal action will be taken for spreading false news," another post by the ACP said.

Netizens question VIP movement

"VIP movement causes unnecessary pain to normal citizens. VIPs should also move with traffic," one wrote. Why are you justifying blocking traffic? Are tax payers second class citizens? Why can't the governor travel like every other person in the city," asked another.

Not convoy, construction work reason of delay?

Meanwhile, a few others expressed that there was nothing wrong in disrupting regular traffic movement for a brief movement to let the official pass.

"I have encountered governor convoy multiple times, hardly they take 10 min. This traffic was due to some construction. Everything is not politics. Blaming police who work tirelessly without checking facts is not good," read a comment.

More about the incident

The incident occurred on Sunday evening when the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) blocked traffic completely on Old Airport Road for half an hour to clear a corridor for the Governor's movement. This section of the road is already a bottleneck due to ongoing underpass construction work. The sudden stoppage led to bumper-to-bumper congestion, stranding hundreds of commuters.