Farmer Wearing Panche (Dhoti) Denied Entry In GT World Mall In Bengaluru

In a shocking incident, a farmer was refused entry to the GT World Mall in Bengaluru's Magadi Road area because he was wearing a traditional dhoti (panche). The security staff at the mall allegedly told the farmer that people wearing panchas were not allowed, despite having a notice about it.

The incident occurred when Phakeerappa, a farmer from Ranebennur in Haveri district, came along with his son to the mall to watch a movie. Phakeerappa wore his usual dhoti, but was denied entry by the mall security guard.

This incident has sparked outrage among social media users, who are questioning why people who wear western clothes like shorts are allowed to enter the mall while those wearing traditional attire are not.

Members of pro-Kannada outfits on Wednesday morning staged a protest in front of the GT World Mall near Magadi Road after a farmer in traditional attire was allegedly denied entry.

The incident sparked widespread outrage, prompting pro-Kannada and pro-farmer groups to call for action.

In a video message shared with media on Thursday, farmer leader Kuruburu Shanthakumar demanded an apology from the mall management and warned of large-scale protests.

This is not an isolated incident. A similar case occurred a few months ago when a farmer was denied entry to the Namma metro due to his untidy attire. The farmer, dressed in a white shirt and balancing a bundle of clothes on his head, was halted at the security checkpoint of Rajajinagar metro station, despite possessing a valid ticket. The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) later apologised and took action against the staff involved.

The incident has sparked debate on social media, with many calling for an end to the practice of looking down on people who wear traditional clothing.