Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD)
Pics: Durga Digitals

Udupi, Oct 14: The local unit of BJP staged ‘rail roko’ at the railway station here, on Saturday October 13, urging Railway Board to fulfill various demands, not to accommodate train compartments/wagons of ‘Matsyagandha’ express train of Konkan Railway (KR) to other destinations in Southern Railway route, to increase the existing compartments from 18 to 21 besides to reserve quota for the benefit of local residents traveling between Mumbai and Mangalore. 

They demanded special quota to be fixed to Udupi for travelling on ‘Mangala Express’, to resume ‘Jana Shatabdi’ train service for the benefit of travelers, to allot substantial seats in increased compartments of ‘Rajdhani Express’ for the passengers at Udupi and Mangalore.

The local BJP leaders and activists threatened to aggravate the protest, if the Railway board does not revert to the injustice caused by its policies applicable to coastal Karnataka.  They have submitted a copy of memorandum consisted of their demands with KR officials.

The ‘rail roko’ protest was led by MP, Manorama Madhwaraj, for minister Dr V S Acharya, MLAs K Raghupati Bhat, Sunil Kumar, Lalaji R Mendon, Urban Development Board chairman K T Poojary, district BJP president Kota Srinivas Poojary, Town BJP president Divakar Shetty, B Ravi Amin and others.

The police arrested all of them including 167 BJP activists, who were released later.  ‘Matsyagandha’ express train was delayed from 2-20 p m to 2-36p m, due to ‘rail roko’