Karnataka government has just issued massively xenophobic rules that will govern parties and social events with foreigners in attendance. The rules include a condition that organizers of such parties must allow officials to capture the event on video.
According to a report in Bangalore Mirror, the city of Bangalore, the capital of India's information technology industry and home to numerous expats, has been spared the bizarre new rules.
A document accessed by the newspaper, shows that the state government has mandated the organisers of such parties and social events to "obtain permission from district-level committees headed by the deputy commissioner by revealing the project cost, source of funding, names of advertisers and the event schedule". They are also advised to "stay in tune with Indian culture and traditions".
The document then goes on to list the dos and don'ts that need to be followed in Bangalore, if one wants to throw a party for expats and foreigners.
- All parties and events shows should end by 10 pm.
- Organisers should provide all the details of the foreigners who will be participating in the event at the time of obtaining permission.
- Officials from the tourism and police departments should be allowed to film or photograph the event.
- Tourists are not allowed to stay back or sleep at the venue after the event is over.
In February 2012, an event called Spring Zouk 2012, organised at St Mary's Island by a private company in association with the state government, had caused it huge embarrassment after evidence of a rave had emerged The government had also been slammed for allowing consumption of liquor and drugs, besides turning a blind eye to nudity by the guests.
"We do not want a repeat of the incident. These rules are meant to end display of sleaze in the state," a tourism department official told Bangalore Mirror.
No now, in the entire state, big brother will keep a watch on the dance floor.