Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru Feb 7: Pothole victim Aatish's mother Prathima thanked the opposition leaders for their generosity in visiting the house and helping financially, and slammed the elected representatives who failed to respond to their pain.
Aatish lost his life last year in August while avoiding a pothole at Bikarnakatte. There was outrage in public over his death. Aatish’s friend was out for a lone protest demanding justice.
On January 5, Aathish mother Prathima criticized the elected representatives who failed to respond to their problems and provide justice to the family. She did so as they were not able to provide any kind of compensation despite Aatish and his father working for the elected party relentlessly.
Soon after Prathima's appeal, opposition leaders Mohiuddin Bava, Inayath Ali, J R Lobo, Ivan D’Souza, Kalburgi MLA Priyank Kharge, AAP district president Santhosh Kamath, Satyajith Surathkal, treasurer Kudroli temple Padmaraj visited the residence of Aatish and provided financial help. Prathima thanked all those who helped her in the tough situation and showing generosity towards her family.
Speaking to Daijiworld, Prathima said, “It has been 6 months since the death of my son and a month since I appealed seeking justice. It is unfortunate that none of the BJP leaders, MLAs or MP visited my house and provide any compensation from the government. MLA Dr Bharath Y Shetty visited houses and provided compensation to two families who are my neighbours. I am not criticizing the MLA for helping them out, but he could have visited my house. What wrong did my son do? My son along with my husband worked relentlessly for the two constituencies during the previous election. Is this the reward?
“When a leader cannot respond to the public’s problems, why do we need such leaders? My son’s life had value only if he was killed by a Muslim?
“I am not asking any compensation from their pockets but from the government. Even we are Hindus. Can they not see our pain and think of providing justice to our family? Recently, ‘Shaurya Yathra’ was conducted. They should have shown ‘shaurya’ by providing justice to us but not by killing a Muslim. Even we are Hindus, let them show shaurya by helping us,” she said.
Prathima further said, “Many opposition leaders visited our house and helped us. I am thankful to them for showing generosity and helping our family. Leaders like Mohiuddin Bava, J R Lobo, Inayath Ali, Priyank Kharge, Sathyajith Surathkal, Padmaraj, Ivan D’Souza and Santhosh Kamath have visited our house. When a Kalburgi MLA Priyank Kharge has taken time to visit our house, our MLA Dr Bharath Y Shetty whose house is just a kilometre away, did not visit our house and has shown no concern towards us.
“During elections, they will come to seek votes. If anything happens to us, they are not bothered. They do show any concern,” said Prathima.