Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Oct 9: Former district incharge minister and BJP leader J Krishna Palemar on Friday October 9 called a press meet to explain why his party had not participated in the recent protest against the new toll plaza at Suratkal. The protest had been led by Nagarika Samiti and Congress leaders had participated in it.
Palemar said, "There have been questions on the absence of BJP leaders in the protest led by Suratkal Nagarika Samiti. Hence, to clarify this issue, I have called for this press meet."
Blaming the Congress, he said, "The process of toll gate installation from Suratkal to BC Road was completed during the tenure of the erstwhile UPA government. During that period, Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes was a powerful central minister. The previous Congress-led UPA government is responsible for all the trouble, right from the construction of the toll gate, but now neither MLA Mohiuddin Bava nor Nagarika Samiti is talking about this," he said.
"Oscar Fernandes is taking part in the protest and they (Congress leaders) are trying to mislead the people. MLA Bava has influenced the Nagarika Samiti to hide the mistakes of the previous UPA governmet and is misusing the deputy commissioner. The Congress leaders are acting as if they have bought a temporary stay on toll collection.
"Nagarika Samiti had filed a case in the court and thereafter the petitioners did not attend the case thus indirectly making it convenient for the toll gate contractors. The court directed the deputy commissioner to give opportunity for the collection of the toll.
"Thus we did not take part in the protest. Our party condemns the placing of toll gate near NIT-K. But being a national party we respect the verdict of the court. We have discussed this issue with the NHAI officials through our member of parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel and asked them to find solution to this problem. We have discussed with the contractors through our MP to provide pass to locals, local commercial vehicles and they have agreed to this. We would like to inform the Nagarika Samiti which is acting like an agent of MLA Bava that it cannot cheat people. People want a sincere organisation which can fight sincerely. People will not trust organisations like Nagarika Samiti which is acting like an agent of MLA Bava," he said.
He also urged the support of public for BJP's padayatra against Yettinahole project which will start on Saturday October 10 from Garodi temple at 10 am.
Answering questions on Yettinahole project, Palemar said the government has just signed the DPR and there can be thousands of DPRs and it is just a possibility. The government has to make a study on the pros and cons of the project and only then implement it, he said.