G.T. Mall faces seven-day closure for denial of entry to farmer in dhoti

Karnataka Government orders G.T. Mall closure for 7 days after denying entry to farmer in dhoti.

After a 70-year-old farmer Fakeerappa, who went to G.T. Mall in Bengaluru with his son to watch a movie at a multiplex, was allegedly denied entry owing to his attire — a dhoti and a white shirt on July 16, the Karnataka Government on Thursday (July 18) said it will ask the management to close the mall for seven days.

G.T. Mall located on Magadi Main Road in the City and the incident occurred around 6 p.m. on July 16.

Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh told the Legislative Assembly that the government would take stern action against the mall and it would be ordered to shut down for seven days for denying entry to the farmer to the mall.

“Will the mall stop from entering former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, who also wears dhoti?” asked Mr. Suresh, opposing dress restrictions for entry into the mall.

Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader also condemned the incident and asked the government to take note of the issue and take stern action.

Laxman Savadi (Congress) urged the government to stop supplying electricity to the mall for one week. “If the owner wants people with suits and boots to enter the mall, then let him (owner) build the mall in America”.

Prakash Koliwad (Congress) said the farmer hails from his Ranebennur constituency and demanded the mall be closed. The farmer has given education to all his nine children and one of them is an MBA graduate, who took his father to the mall to watch the movie, he said.