Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (RJP)
Mangaluru, May 19: The voluntary bandh called by various anti Yettinahole project organisations has been peaceful so far with some minor incidents reported.
Activists of Netravathi Samyuktha Samrakshana Vedike held a peaceful protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue at Lalbhag in city.
Samyuktha Samrakshana Vedike president Vijay Kumar Shetty speaking on the occasion said “First of all, I congratulate the people of Dakshina Kannada for the cooperation they gave for the voluntary bandh. The response has been overwhelming. Secondly, if the stubborn government still does not listen to us, we will intensify the protest. We are committed to explore all the legal means to stop the Yettinahole project. District in-charge minister should realise that there has been tremendous response at his own constituency Bantwal. This is the time for him to act.”
Dinkar Shetty speaking on the occasion said “We are touched by the response by people. At least Ramanath Rai now should talk to the chief minister and convince him about the unity of people here. This is the time the government realises its mistake in moving ahead with the project.”
The vehicular movements on the city roads have been less compared to normal days.
Most of the shops till now, remain closed except milk parlours.
Untoward incidents have been reported in Pumpwell in city where tyre was burnt. A car burning incident too has been reported from Belthangady. It is not yet known about the connection of these incidents with the bandh.
A Volvo bus belonging to KSRTC, plying between Tirupati and Mangaluru via Bengaluru, was stoned by miscreants at Jyothi circle in city in the early hours.
Heavy police presence is seen in city. Bajrang Dal activists were seen protesting peacefully by sitting on the road at Nantoor.
As there was no public transport, commuters were put to a lot of inconvenience. People were seen waiting for buses, or looking for other forms of transport or walking distances. In some parts of the district, people voluntarily came forward in support of the bandh. In rural areas there was a lukewarm response towards the bandh. Most of the people used their private vehicles to travel in. On the whole, the bandh has affected the normal life of people.
Samyuktha Samrakshana Vedike protest
Bajrang Dal protest at Nantoor
Belthangady car burning incident
At Pumpwell