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

Mangaluru, Sep 14: The Communist Party of India (Marxists) staged a huge protest in front of the Mangaluru City Corporation here on Monday September 14 to protest against the 'failure' of the ruling Congress in responding to civic issues in the city.

Addressing the protestors, Sunil Kumar Bajal, secretary, CPI (M) Mangaluru city south committee, said, "The Congress party had promised it would not raise tax and would govern the city effectively, but as soon as it assumed power in the MCC, it raised the housing tax, and along with that we have to give tax for solid waste management too. The Congress party is minting crores of rupees out of garbage also. We have concrete roads but no footpaths. From the past two years 15 people have died due to absence of footpaths. The drainage system is horrible, in many places it is overflowing and making the city stink.

"For five years BJP ruled the city, but from 30 years Congress party is ruling it. Ask any corporator if he has any plans on how to develop the city. All corporators are clueless when it comes to development. They are only thinking about how to make money. During the Congress rule for one year there was no mayor and another year no commissioner. The Congress party has failed totally. It is the labour class that builds the city, but we are suffering under the rule of the corrupt party. But the wind of change is blowing, and we all have to come together and raise our voice and work towards the development of the city," he urged.

District secretary of CPI(M) Vasanth Achari, said, "This protest is much better than the general meeting of MCC. The attitude of the Congress party is detrimental to the city's growth. Only CPI(M) is working as the opposition party of the nation by raising the concerns of the people before the ruling party. The housing tax and rent are too high, and families who come here from other states for jobs are suffering due to high rent. The concreting of roads is done unscientifically, and no drains are installed. In the name of concreting the roads, auto rickshaw parks are removed but no alternatives are given. Street vendors are suffering.

"The government is dancing to the tune of capitalists. If the Congress governement fails to heed to the concerns of the labour class, we will wipe it out in the next elections, just as we did to BJP," he warned.

He also demanded the resignation or removal of law minister D V Sadananda Gowda and Congress leader Veerappa Moily for speaking in favour of the Yettinahole project.

J Balakrishna Shetty, veteran labour leader, Krishnappa Konchady, CPI (M) Mangaluru city north secretary and others were present at the protest.