Members of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) staged a protest in front of Vidhana Soudha on Thursday, demanding an immediate apology from Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda over his recent remarks concerning pourakarmikas.

The protesters alleged that the Minister’s remarks were derogatory and demanded that he apologise to pourakarmikas, who play a key role in maintaining the city’s cleanliness.

According to the AICCTU, several protesters, including Nirmala, Maitreyi Krishnan, Vinay Sreenivasa and Sharat and Harish, were detained by the police.

The organisation alleged that the police manhandled some of the protesters during the detention. It also alleged that police tore a copy of the Preamble of the Constitution that was being held by protesters.

The protesters raised slogans highlighting the contribution of sanitation workers to Bengaluru and asserted that pourakarmikas are equal citizens entitled to dignity and respect.