Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar made an unannounced visit to Bengaluru’s Yeshwanthpur APMC market on Tuesday morning, where he spoke with farmers, traders, commission agents, loaders and other workers about problems involving prices, commissions, transportation costs, weighing practices and market operations.
According to a report by Vijay Karnataka, Shivakumar arrived at around 7 a.m. without prior notice and spent time speaking directly with people working in the market. He reportedly sat near onion sacks and later had breakfast at a small eatery with labourers during the visit.
The report said the deputy chief minister warned officials that they could face suspension if irregularities in the market were not stopped. The account did not include a detailed written order or a separate statement from the officials who were allegedly warned.
The visit also brought attention to complaints about children working in the market. In a statement cited by Vijay Karnataka, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike state president T.A. Narayana Gowda said five special teams were formed after complaints emerged and that 19 minors were rescued. The report did not provide further details about the children, the agencies involved or the action taken after the rescue operation.
Narayana Gowda welcomed the chief minister’s direct interaction with market workers in a post on X. He said Shivakumar had asked about crop prices, commissions, transport expenses, production costs and possible manipulation in weighing. He also described the visit as a departure from staged public appearances, while urging the deputy chief minister to continue meeting people across different sections of society.
The response to the post was mixed. Some commenters praised the visit and the direct engagement with workers, while others questioned whether it was a public-relations exercise and said Karnataka’s concerns extended beyond Bengaluru. Those reactions were posted in response to Narayana Gowda’s message and do not establish an independent assessment of the visit.
Yeshwanthpur APMC is a major trading point within Bengaluru’s urban food-supply system, bringing together agricultural producers, traders, transport workers, loaders and consumers. The issues raised during the visit concern both market administration and the working conditions of people whose labour supports the movement of food through the city.
The reported next steps are the continuation of action by the five special teams following the complaints about minors and scrutiny of alleged irregularities by market authorities. Further details on the identities of the officials warned, the status of the rescued children and any formal administrative orders were not available in the report.
