Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (MM/RD)

Mangalore, Nov 11: The citizens of Dakshina Kannada (DK) district have been actively involved in the protests staged against railway authorities for their alleged negligence, in the past. One can recall that, many protests were held against railway authorities, in this regard. But the railway department seems to have not woken up from its slumber.

It is now P V Mohan, convener of Mangalore Railway Fighters’ Federation, has decided to go on hunger strike, which will be staged in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office on Monday, November 12 at 10-15 a m.

Fr Denis D’Sa, director of Fr Muller Medical College (FMMC), Dr P L Dharma, director of Mangalore University Mahatma Gandhi Study Centre and M B Abdul Rehman, president of Central Beary Parishat, will inaugurate this hunger strike.

The chief objective of staging hunger strike will be to press the Southern Western Railway (SWR) to introduce Mangalore-Bangalore passenger train services at the earliest and retain ‘Matsyagandha’ express running between Mumbai and Mangalore for the benefit of DK populace and not to extend the same express train to Tiruvanthapuram.

The organizers already informed that, a spacious stage will be built at the venue, to accommodate large number of general public to join in the protest. At the same time, a big flexi banner will be built near the stage, to collect signatures of about 10 thousand people.

Already the street plays were held in and around the city, to create awareness on the apathy of Indian Railways (IR) authorities towards coastal Karnataka.

A massive protest was also held at Mulki on Saturday, November 10 by Konkan Railway Users’ Forum. All taxi, auto rickshaw drivers and political party leaders actively participated in this protest.