Owing to pressure and looking ahead of elections to woo young voters, the Congress Government in Karnataka led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah extended nightlife by allowing eateries, bars, pubs and restaurants open till 1 am.
Karnataka Home Minister KJ George told the media on Saturday in Bangalore that the Government as a pilot basis has extended the nightlife till 1 am. He also said it was done to reach the needs of a cosmopolitan city like Bangalore.
“The Government has taken a decision to allow eateries till 0100 hours instead of the earlier 1130 hours seven days a week. But bars and restaurants and pubs are allowed to open only till 0100 hours only on Fridays and Saturdays and not the whole week,” he said.
Home Minister KJ George defended the decision saying that the city had grown leaps and bounds and turned into a purely cosmopolitan metropolis which demanded certain facilities to the denizens. Bangalore, the IT capital has earned a reputation of being the cosmopolitan city of the country. There was pressure from IT professionals and some organisations to extend nightlife in Bangalore comparing with that of some western cities.
There had been a wide ranging debate and a section of people, especially the youth and those work in the growing IT sector, wanted food and drinks be available till wee hours. In fact it was also part of the manifesto of the Congress and the BJP. The political parties targeting the huge migrant population in the city wants to garner more votes. The Congress also does not want to lose out on this chance.
However a source in the police department told The Pioneer that they were opposed to the extension of nightlife in Bangalore fearing increase of crime rate. However government feels this move would help gain some popularity among migrates and IT professionals who work long hours in the night shifts. But the city’s police which is crippled by a 22 per cent staff shortage, is wary that the extended pub hours might increase the chances of crime.
Eom/blr