Mangalore: Chaos in Niddodi as locals gherao Congress representatives
Pics: Brijesh Garodi / Sunil Haleangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)
Updated
Mangalore, Jul 29: The residents of Niddodi near here once again rose in protest on Monday July 29, this time when representatives of Congress visited the village to speak to the people.
The Congress members, on the instruction of All Indian Congress Committee (AICC), along with media persons visited Niddodi to furnish a report on the problems and objections of the people to the proposed ultra mega power plant planned in Niddodi, and send it to the AICC.
However, as soon as the locals saw the representatives approaching the village along with media persons, they gheraoed them and stopped them from entering Niddodi.
Around 500 people gathered at the spot and protested against the representatives, armed with footwear and even brooms to chase them away.
"We do not want any representatives to come here and report. Let the leaders or MLA who sent you here come and meet us. We will tell our problems directly to them," the protestors told the Congress group.
The Congress representatives then dialled the number of Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes, but he was not reachable. When they demanded to speak to the MLA directly, the representatives said that he cannot come as he is in the midst of Assembly session. To this, the protestors replied that if he has no time to come and listen to their grievances, he should resign.
The locals, who have been seething with anger over the proposed project that may take away their lands spreading across three villages, refused to listen to any explanations.
The protestors further demanded, "We had staged a hunger strike yesterday, why didn't you come then? Why have you come today?"
The women protestors warned the group, "This time we have come with only footwear and brooms, but next time anyone comes here, we will bring knives."
The protest soon intensified as the locals began pelting stones at the three vehicles by which the delegation had come. The vehicles were immediately taken away to prevent further damage.
A panchayat member who was passing by in his vehicle with his family was stopped by the protestors and his car was damaged. The police who tried to intervene seemed helpless.
Finally, having no other go but to relent, the Congress members assured the protestors that they would ensure that the project is withdrawn. Only then the protestors calmed down and allowed the representatives to return.
P V Mohan, Denis D'Silva, T K Sudhir, Badruddin, Suresh Shetty and Nelson from Congress and Rohitaksha of Raita Sangha were the representatives.
Police who arrived at the spot tried to calm down the situation, however, they were only a handful of them as compared to the hundreds of protestors.
On Sunday July 28, the people of Niddodi had organized a day-long hunger strike against the project.