Bengaluru, October 26: The detention of two prominent Left-aligned activists in Bengaluru, including a leader actively involved in organizing the IT sector, has ignited a firestorm of outrage against the Congress-led Karnataka government. Critics are accusing the administration of resorting to undemocratic methods to stifle legitimate workers' movements and suppress dissent.
Comrade Chithra Bhanu, a dedicated member of the CPI(M) IT Front Local Committee, and Comrade Suhas Adiga were reportedly taken into custody by Bengaluru Police late Saturday evening during a critical mobilization event organized by the burgeoning IT employees’ union movement.
Trade union circles and Left organizations have issued strong condemnation, painting the arrests not merely as a law-and-order matter, but as a calculated act of political repression. "The Congress government in Karnataka is clearly attempting to intimidate voices demanding fair labour practices and dignity in the IT sector," read a statement from union representatives. "This is a direct assault on the constitutional right to protest and organize."
The arrests strike at the heart of an already intense struggle for labour rights in India’s tech capital. Comrade Bhanu’s affiliation highlights the involvement of the CPI(M) and its labour wing, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), in organizing the sector. CITU played a crucial role in the formation of the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU)—the state’s first formally registered trade union for IT professionals, a historic step in organizing the largely ununionized industry,.
KITU was formed following years of struggle against widespread layoffs, long working hours, and lack of legal protections for tech employees. The union has been at the forefront of advocacy, including fiercely opposing the proposal for 12-hour workday shifts, which the organization famously described as “modern-day slavery”. The detention of leaders involved in this vital organization drive is thus seen by activists as a clear and chilling signal of the government's alignment against the interests of the working class.
Local CPI(M) leaders have called for the immediate and unconditional release of both comrades, demanding that democratic forces across the state rally against what they term "the growing political repression under Congress rule."
In a defiant response, workers and student organizations are planning major solidarity demonstrations today, with protests expected at Freedom Park and various major IT hubs. Far from suppressing the movement, the arrests appear to have galvanized the campaign, escalating the fight for democratic and labour freedoms in Karnataka’s technology industry.
26 October
