Mangalore: Tulunada Rakshana Vedike demands permit for rural autos to enter city

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Feb 19: Tulunada Rakshana Vedike with the support of hundreds of auto rickshaw drivers from rural areas on Tuesday February 19 staged a massive protest near the DC's office here, demanding grant of licence to ferry passengers from rural areas to the city.

Addressing the protestors, Tulunada Rakshana Vedike founder president Yogish Shetty Jeppu said the administration should grant permission to rural auto drivers to carry passengers from Thokkottu, Ullal, Deralakatte, Someshwar, Kotekar, Kuthar, Konaje to the city.

"All these places are within the limits of 10-km distance, hence the administration should allow us to enter the city," he said.

"People of rural areas are dependent on the city, as there are many colleges, district centers, schools and hospitals in the heart of the city. We have been fighting for the cause for the past 8 years, hence the organization demands that this problem be sorted out very soon," he added.

Speaking to daijiworld, Krishna Shetty Pilar, working president of Tulunada Rakshana Vedike said, “Today 400 auto rickshaw drivers have kept aside their work and attended this protest to demand justice. Rural rickshaws are not allowed to enter the city. If the rural rickshaws do come to the city for legitimate reasons like taking patients to hospitals, the rickshaw drivers are booked by police. We are fighting from many years but our demand has not been fulfilled. If this continues we will intensify our struggle," he warned.

Hamid Hassan Madoor, Krishna Gatti Someshwara, Farook Kinya, Salaluddin Ayub and many others were present.

Prior to the protest, a rally of over 400 auto rickshaws from Thokkottu, Ullal, Kotekar and other places was taken from Thokkottu to State Bank.