Mysore/Mysuru: Urging Government not to cancel cultural programmes during the upcoming Dasara festival, members of Mysuru City and District Cultural and Professional Artistes’ Association staged protest opposite Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office here this morning.

Protesting artistes demanded that the Government should continue organising cultural programmes in all the major seven venues in city including Kalamandira, Kiru Rangamandira, Jaganmohan Palace, Dufferin Clock Tower, Ganabharathi – Veene Sheshanna Bhavan, Town Hall and Sri Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha. 

As the artistes are facing severe crisis due to Corona pandemic with no cultural events held for over the last six months, they urged the Government to help the artistes in the region by holding Dasara cultural events as before, while giving prominence to local artistes.

Association Vice-President B.N. Janardhan, Secretary B. Srikanta Rao, office-bearers Ganesh Ishwar Bhat, M.R. Krishna Rao, R. Shivakumar and others were present.

CITU: Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) also staged protest near the DC’s office here this morning, urging the Government for fulfilment of their various demands including payment of salaries of workers for the lockdown period.

Strongly opposing various policies of the Central and State Governments, they urged the Government to safeguard the interests of employees.

CITU leaders including Balaji Rao, Muralidhar, Somesh, Basavaiah, Mehaboob and others participated in the protest.

Railways: Protesting against privatisation and corporatisation of Indian Railways, members of All India Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Railway Employees Association took out a procession here this morning.

Association Members shouted slogans and held a protest march, which began from the Office of Association located at Seshadri Iyer Road in city. The protest march later proceeded on Irwin Road to reach the Office of Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), South Western Railway.

The members urged the Central Government to immediately stop privatisation of Railways. They urged the Government to revoke an order to cut 50% vacant posts in Indian Railways including reserved posts. They also demanded to implement reservation in both private sector and judiciary.

The protesters later submitted a memorandum to the DRM.