A farmer was prohibited from entering the Bengaluru metro because the authorities judged his attire to be too unclean for the public transport system.

A video circulating on X showcased an individual, Karthik C Airani, defending the farmer and engaging in a dispute with the metro staff at the Rajajinagar metro station. 

He challenged the existence of any dress code regulation that must be followed to access the metro service. Another passenger also voiced support for the farmer, arguing that entry should only be restricted if someone carries prohibited items and labelled the official's actions as clear discrimination.

"He is a farmer and possesses the required ticket to travel through the metro. He also does not have any items in his sack that are prohibited from bringing into the metro. He only has clothes. On what basis is he being denied entry?"

"Show me a rule which mandates a dress code for commuters of the metro. Is this a transport restricted to the VIPs? It’s public transport," Airani was heard arguing with an official in Kannada.

Following the viral spread of the video on social media, the Bengaluru metro authority issued a statement declaring the termination of the security staff involved in the incident, affirming that the metro service welcomes everyone.

The clip, which captured the commuters' defence of the farmer, sparked widespread indignation across social media platforms, with many questioning the right of metro officials to determine eligibility for service access.

You might also be interested in - Centre introduces five-year plan to buy maize and pulses from farmers at MSP: Piyush Goyal