From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Apr 21: The State police have been asked to investigate the role of trade leaders or anti-social elements behind the public protests and violent incidents that occurred at different places in the City during two-day protest agitation by garment workers, mainly women workers, against new Provident Fund rules that were later withdrawn by the Centre.

Karnataka’s Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, who spoke to reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday, said: "We want to know who instigated the violence whether by the trade union leader, anti-social elements or owners of garment factories.’’

The Home Minister met reporters after a meeting with the senior police officers.

He said the police would identify the leaders, who instigated the violence in which 88 police and 11 people were injured and 109 vehicles were damaged. 

Police booked cases against 149 people in the City and 100 people in Bengaluru Rural district during the protest, he said.

“Massive protests were held without leadership. There is no leader to hold negotiations. We will analyse all factors that triggered massive protests and take strict action against all those who instigated the protest and set fire on buses and a police station,” Dr Parameshwara said.

Stating that there was no “intelligence failure or government failure in this case”, the Home Minister said there was no truth in a charge that the government has supported the protest. 

The meeting discussed precautionary steps needed to be taken in the event of such protest in the city. The police acted in great restrain and suffered injuries, he said.

Buckling under protests, the Centre on Tuesday revoked the order tightening rules for withdrawal of provident fund money.

To a question on why garment workers of the City staged a protest when the policy was applicable to the entire country, the Home Minister said: ``We examining the causes that triggered protests here for two days.”