Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, May 16: "My family is on the road now and it is because of HPCL. I have been a victim of its officials. From past three days I was protesting and when MLA J R Lobo approached me and held meetings with HPCL, the company officials lied in the meeting," alleged Prakash, an HPCL dealer who has been up in arms with the company alleging discrimination and unjust treatment.
Addressing a press meet here on Saturday May 16, Prakash said, "J R Lobo has promised that he would give me justice by discussing the matter with HPCL and other governing bodies and requested me to stop the protest.
"So I am withdrawing the protest for 10 days and if they (HPCL) fail to do justice to my family I will again start protesting," said Prakash.
Prakash in his press note mentioned two HPCL officers who he claims have caused him lot of trouble. "Right from beginning since I started my business in 2007, I have been the victim of these officials. Mangaluru HPCL officers Mahesh Kumar and Naveen Kumar M G are responsible for all the problems. Because of these two people sales and purchase at my petrol bunk has been stopped.
"Due to pressure from these officials, I had no option but to work with another partner named Dasharath who was introduced by them. I do not have any kind of connection with the 25 lac rupees due, which the HPCL has put on my head. HPCL has not done any investigation and there is no complaint against me either. I have every single document with me and I have been troubled by police and an underworld don. There is proof that the money was being transferred to Dasharath's personal account and even the pending KSRTC amount was taken by him," he claimed.
"After I filed FIR against Mahesh and Naveen, the investigation was supposed to finish off within 30 days, but there has been no investigation at all. I am not at all sad because I was born in SC/ST community. I am happy that I have availed the job scheme from the government. But these HPCL officials are playing with our lives. This is really sad," he said.
Speaking about Dasharath, Prakash said, "I did not know who Dasharath was until he was introduced into the business. Dasharath is from Mudigere too. There are no documents about Dasharath being my business partner. HPCL has only vocally said that he is my partner, and we did business together only for three months."
Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) leader Keshav, Chandra Kumar, Vishwas Kumar Das, Premanath, S P Anand and others were also present on this occasion.