Union Minister for Fertilizers and Chemicals Mr. Ananth Kumar has appealed to the agitating garment workers of Karnataka to withdraw their agitation as the Union Government has stayed the order on Employees Provident Fund till the August first. While talking to the media persons in Bengaluru today, he said that he had talks with the union labour minister and a meeting of the trustees of Employees Provident Fund organisation will be convened soon.<br/><br/>Earlier today, police resorted to lathi charge and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse a group of agitating garment workers who turned violent and pelted stones damaging more than 50 vehicles in various parts of Bengaluru. Several buses were set on fire and a police station was attacked on the second day of the agitation. The garment workers have also taken out a procession from the Freedom Park in Bengaluru to the regional PF office.<br/><br/>As garment workers took to the highway stopping vehicular movement in protest against new provisions to the Provident Fund Act restricting withdrawals from May 1, traffic was disrupted on highways connecting to Tamil Nadu and Mysuru. Reports of road blockades have also come in from Maddur and Srirangapatna in Mandya District.<br/><br/>Talking to newspersons, the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner of Karnataka said that the Centre was prepared to look into the grievances of agitating garment workers. The Garment factories have declared a holiday for the day as a precautionary measure.