Silvester D’ Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapura (EP)

Kundapura, Oct 2: It appears that the protests staged by lorry owners and
drivers across Udupi district for the last one week against enforcement of transport law and installation of GPS are likely to intensify further. The stand was clear in the district-level meeting at Mangalya Mandira on Monday, October 2.

Lorry Owners and Drivers Association district president Raghavendra Shetty said that the district administration and SP are solely responsible for the current issues. “We are bound by the law to enforce transport thrust on us. How is it fair to insist all of a sudden? We have been protesting for the last one week but the district administration is giving evasive replies,” he said, condemning the actions of sending wrong signals.

“We do not want politics but only the solutions. Our association is tired between the politics of two parties,” he said. The meeting expressed anguish against the district administration releasing different statements every day.

“The lives of lorry owners and drivers depend on the leaders that are toe the line of the government. The district in-charge minister should intervene and solve the problem in the presence of the chief minister. There is no question of giving up our protests until the problem is sorted out,” he said.

Details were obtained from various zonal presidents on the occasion.

Expressing anguish about permission from district administration to transport red stones and red soil, the meeting demanded the government to give it in writing.

Presidents and office-bearers of various zones were present. Kota zone president Ganesh Poojary presided over the meeting. Kota zone’s Sudhir Malyadi compered the programme.