Bengaluru man asks politicians in viral post: 'Do you walk on our streets? Don't you feel embarrassed?'

A Bengaluru resident has ignited a debate online with a poignant post on X, directly challenging the city's politicians over the dismal state of its roads. His viral message appears to echo the deep frustration felt by many citizens, who are being increasingly vocal about the everyday chaos on Bengaluru's roads and footpaths.

"Dear Bangalore politicians, do you ever walk on our streets? Don’t you feel embarrassed by the chaos — the broken footpaths, the garbage-strewn sidewalks, the sheer hostility of our stinking public spaces to anyone on foot?" former journalist Sudhakar Rao (@sudhakar10) asked. He highlighted the personal struggle of explaining the poor conditions to his son, who questions why other countries boast clean, safe, and open pedestrian spaces. For Rao, this isn't just an inconvenience; it's a profound lack of dignity and safety in what should be a global city.

"I have no answer for my 9-year-old who keeps asking why other countries are so clean and have open/pedestrian spaces for children to walk without fearing they’ll end up under a vehicle. Don’t you get asked the same by your own children — or by the foreign delegates you host?" he wrote, tagging Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and other ministers in his post on X.

"We need a city that lets us walk with dignity. Please, look beyond political compulsions," Rao said, adding that the elderly stumble on broken pavements, children haven't been able to walk to school safely, and millions of others haven't been able to enjoy the once vibrant and green streets of Bengaluru.