Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Dec 22: The BJP district unit on Monday December 22 rose in protest against urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake over the issue of non-appointment of a commissioner to Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) for the past six months.

Sorake was supposed to arrive in the city to attend a private function at a hotel. However, he cancelled his visit.

Nevertheless, on receiving news that Sorake would be attending the function, the BJP members gathered in front of their party's office at PVS and began to protest showing black flags against the minister.

Speaking to daijiworld, opposition leader in the MCC Premanand Shetty said, "From the past six months we have been demanding the appointment of MCC commissioner, but the government has failed to act on it. Hence, wherever and whenever Sorake comes to Mangaluru, we will protest by waving black flags.

"We even held press meets to demand the appointment of MCC commissioner, raised the issue during MCC meetings and went to the extent of boycotting meetings. But our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. The MCC is facing so many problems because of this issue," he added.

"The non-appointment is due to the internal clash within the Congress. We will continue our protest until they appoint a new commissioner. It is the responsibility of the government," he said.

Police personnel from Bunder and Barke rushed to the spot. At first around five or six persons were detained, but soon other BJP members gathered and the protest turned chaotic. The police rounded up around 25-30 persons and took them away in vans.

BJP members including Monappa Bhandary, Kishore Kumar, Vedavasa Kamath and many others were part of the protest.

Press Meet

"Till the state government appoints a commissioner for the Mangalore City Corporation, the BJP will hold protests and wave black flags at the chief minister and the urban development minister whenever they come to the city," said BJP leader Monappa Bhandary, addressing a press meet at the BJP office later in the day.

"Today, the BJP had organized a peaceful protest against urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake. But district in-charge minister and the urban development minister made efforts to rein in the protesters with the help of the police. They attempted to curb our constitutional rights."

Bhandary also said that it is the responsibility of the government to appoint the City Corporation commissioner. "From the past six months, the city corporation has had no commissioner. Development works are fallen still in the city. If the government doesn’t set this right in the coming days, the BJP will hold severe protests against the government," he said.

On this occasion, Ravishankar Mijar, Premananda Shetty, Roopa D Bangera, Capt Brijesh Chowta, and Sathish were present.