BENGALURU: Opposition leader R. Ashoka has accused the Karnataka Congress government of giving preferential treatment to protesters opposing the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying the organisers of a demonstration at Freedom Park in Bengaluru used the venue without paying the prescribed rent.
The controversy follows a protest organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on October 8, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and opposing the SIR exercise. Actor Prakash Raj, Abhijit Deepke, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, and activists associated with various organisations participated in the demonstration.
ಜಿರಳೆಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಶಾಮೀಲಾದ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್, ಬಿಟ್ಟಿ ಭಾಗ್ಯ ಜಾರಿ!
ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ಉದ್ಯಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ಜಿರಳೆಗಳ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆಗೆ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿ ಭಾಗ್ಯ ಯೋಜನೆ ಜಾರಿ ಮಾಡಿದೆ. ಜಿಬಿಎ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸಂಘ, ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳು ಫ್ರೀಡಂ ಪಾರ್ಕ್ನ ಸಭಾಂಗಣ ಬಳಸಿಕೊಂಡರೆ 1 ಲಕ್ಷ ರೂ. ಬಾಡಿಗೆ ಪಾವತಿಸಬೇಕು. ಆದರೆ ಜಿರಳೆ ಪಾರ್ಟಿಯವರು… pic.twitter.com/GD6UBVKz6f
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) October 13, 2026
Ashoka alleged that the organisers had not paid the rent for the hall at Freedom Park, which, according to him, costs organisations using the facility within the jurisdiction of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Rs. 1 lakh.
He accused the Congress government of giving free facilities to groups protesting against the Centre and the BJP while failing to extend similar consideration to other organisations raising public grievances.
In a sharp attack on the state government, Ashoka described the alleged waiver as a freebie scheme for politically convenient protests. He questioned why the organisers of the CJP demonstration were allegedly exempted from paying the rental charges that apply to other groups.
Ashoka alleges preferential treatment
According to Ashoka, organisations using the Freedom Park hall are required to pay Rs. 1 lakh in rent. However, he claimed that the CJP had not paid even a rupee for its October 8 demonstration.
He further alleged that a Bengaluru MLA and a political leader had verbally instructed officials not to collect rent from the organisers. Ashoka did not identify the individuals named in the statement’s allegations.
The opposition leader claimed that the Congress government was facilitating demonstrations that suited its political interests, particularly protests directed against the BJP-led Union government and the Election Commission’s actions.
Ashoka alleged that the state government was providing facilities to such protesters without ensuring that the rules governing the use of public venues were applied uniformly. He questioned whether the alleged exemption was granted through an authorised administrative decision or based on informal instructions.
However, the allegations would need to be verified through official records relating to the booking, rental charges, and any exemption granted for the event. No response from the organisers or the government to Ashoka’s specific claims was included in the statement.
Questions raised over treatment of other protesters
Ashoka directed his criticism at Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, asking whether other groups that regularly organise demonstrations in Bengaluru had similar concessions.
He cited farmers affected by drought conditions, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), and Anganwadi workers among those who protest to make their demands heard. He questioned whether these groups had also been allowed to use the Freedom Park hall without paying rent.
Farmers frequently raise concerns about agricultural distress, crop losses, and government assistance, while ASHA and Anganwadi workers have sought better remuneration and working conditions. Ashoka argued that the government should apply the same standards to all organisations seeking permission to hold demonstrations at public facilities.
“If the CJP has been allowed to use the hall without paying rent, the government should disclose the details immediately,” was the thrust of his demand.
He asked the Chief Minister to clarify how much rent had been collected from the CJP organisers and whether any official order had authorised a waiver. He insisted the government make the relevant information public to dispel doubts about the alleged preferential treatment.
Demand for transparency in public facilities
Ashoka also challenged the government to allow all organisations to use the facility free of charge if it intended to extend such benefits to selected groups.
He argued that public facilities should be administered under transparent, consistent rules rather than political considerations. If rental charges were mandatory, he said, they should be collected from all eligible organisations. Conversely, if exemptions were permissible, the government should explain the criteria under which they were granted.
The dispute has brought attention to the administration of Freedom Park, a designated venue for demonstrations and public gatherings in Bengaluru. The park regularly hosts protests by political parties, workers’ groups, farmers’ organisations and other associations seeking government intervention on various issues.
