Following an assurance from Chief Minister Siddharamaiah that a decision on their demands would be taken at a meeting to be held on April 19, the Anganawadi workers called off their night-long agitation this afternoon when we went to the Press.

Earlier in the day, the ongoing Assembly session witnessed heated arguments between the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP and JD(S) over the government’s callous attitude in meeting the demands of Anganawadi workers.

As soon as the session began, Opposition Leader Jagadish Shettar (BJP) and H.D. Kumaraswamy (JD-S) lashed out at the Government for failing to address their problems.

Replying to the charges of Shettar, Kumaraswamy and other Opposition Legislators, the CM said that the State government was doing everything possible to meet the demands of Anganawadi workers.

When Siddharamaiah sought to defend his Government over the issue stating that the Congress government had hiked their wages on more than one occasion, heated exchanges broke out been the CM and Opposition Leader Shettar. As repeated appeals by Speaker K.B. Koliwad to calm down the situation failed, he adjourned the session to afternoon.

Over 1,500 Anganawadi workers from Mysuru had joined the stir by thousands of workers from across the State at Freedom Park in Bengaluru yesterday.

The Anganawadi workers are demanding a minimum wage of Rs. 10,000 and statutory benefits among others.

Anganawadi workers, many of whom had brought along their kids, had a hard time spending the night yesterday as the area around the venue lacked toilets and drinking water.

State JD(S) President and former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy was among the first political leaders to visit the protestors this morning.

Addressing the protestors, Kumaraswamy said that he would raise the issue in the ongoing Assembly Session and pressurise the government to fulfil their just demands.

After some time, Opposition Leader in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar too visited the protest venue and heard their demands. Shettar promised to take up their cause with the government and see to it that they would get justice.

Senior Congress MLC Motamma, who also visited the Freedom Park this morning, was reportedly besieged by the protesting Anganawadi workers.

Yesterday, the Anganawadi workers had turned down Women and Child Welfare Minister Umashree’s pleas to end their stir, it is learnt.

Following the massive overnight demonstration, huge traffic jams were witnessed last evening around Freedom Park, with hundred of motorists stranded on roads at Majestic and other roads.

The Traffic Police had a tough time in regulating traffic and pedestrians, who were caught in traffic snarls.