The Chief of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the municipal corporation responsible for the governance of the city of Bangalore, has issued a stern warning to the CEOs of information technology (IT) companies in the city. The warning comes after several IT companies refused to declare a holiday for their employees on the day of elections.
BBMP Chief, Mr. Gaurav Gupta, stated that it is the duty of every citizen to exercise their right to vote and that IT companies should not hinder this process. He also warned that legal action would be taken against companies that fail to declare a holiday on election day.
“The right to vote is a fundamental right of every citizen, and it is the duty of every citizen to exercise this right. The IT companies in Bangalore should not create hurdles in this process. We have received several complaints from citizens that their employers are not allowing them to take leave on the day of elections. This is unacceptable, and we will not tolerate it,” said Mr. Gupta.
The BBMP Chief has instructed the Election Commission to take strict action against companies that fail to comply with the guidelines and rules set by the commission. He added that IT companies should also encourage their employees to vote and make arrangements to facilitate their participation in the democratic process.
The warning from the BBMP Chief has come at a time when the city is gearing up for the upcoming state elections. The Election Commission has urged all citizens to exercise their right to vote and has issued guidelines for companies to declare a holiday on the day of elections.
The refusal of IT companies to declare a holiday on election day has drawn criticism from various quarters. Civil society groups have called for a boycott of companies that fail to comply with the guidelines and rules set by the Election Commission.
The BBMP Chief’s warning to the CEOs of IT companies is seen as a stern message to all companies in the city to respect the democratic process and to ensure that their employees have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.
