Bengaluru citizens launch #RefundTax protest after rain floods shops and hotels

Frustrated over repeated civic failures, Balagere residents protest in multiple languages, demanding a refund of tax money after shops flood due to heavy rains.

Heavy overnight rain in Bengaluru once again exposed the city's fragile civic infrastructure, flooding shops and hotels in Sahakara Nagar's E Block, including a popular Donne Biryani hotel. Business owners spent the morning clearing out slush and drain water, as yet another monsoon shower turned their commercial spaces into water-logged messes.

Amid the chaos, a unique protest took shape in Balagere. Frustrated citizens took to the streets holding a placard that read #RefundTax, We will build our city”, demanding either proper infrastructure or the return of citizens’ tax money. What stood out was the protester's multilingual approach, speaking in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and English, he stressed that the demand was not tied to language, religion, or identity, but a basic civic right.

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“I pay taxes. I speak every language. But what I get is broken roads and flooded streets,” he said. “If the government and BBMP can’t provide basic amenities, we want our money back. We’ll build our city ourselves using our common sense.”

Calling for the resignation of BBMP officials and elected representatives, protestors criticized the continued failure in delivering essential services like drainage, road maintenance, and flood preparedness. They accused civic agencies of being disconnected from ground realities despite repeated public outcries.

Residents of Balagere have protested before, but this time, the emotional pitch and symbolic #RefundTax campaign have garnered attention online and offline. Local shopkeepers expressed solidarity, echoing the sentiment that Bengaluru’s taxpaying citizens deserve far better.

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With rain forecasted for the coming days, questions are again being raised: how many more shops must flood before accountability is enforced? For many, this protest represents more than waterlogged stores, it's a cry for dignity in urban governance.

If officials continue to ignore their responsibilities, similar ‘Refund Tax’ campaigns and street protests are likely to erupt in other parts of Bengaluru.

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