Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Sep 11: Congress has exerted pressure on various unions and the district administration to support the bandh held against the rise in fuel prices on September 10, alleged Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath.
Addressing media here on Monday, September 10, Vedavyas Kamath said, “bus association, rickshaw union, district administration have come under the pressure of Congress to support the bundh. Usually there will be additional KSRTC buses but today even KSTRC have supported this bundh.”
Alleging discrimination, “When BJP called for bundh, police have warned BJP representatives and arrested them. Be it BJP protest or Congress protest, police warn only BJP and RSS representatives to stay away from bundh and not cause trouble. We demand police and district administration to give complete picture on how many Congress representatives and leaders have been arrested during this forcible bundh,” he demanded.
“When BJP protested, district-in-charge minister U T Khader commented that those who call for bundh should be slapped with sandals. Why it the same logic not applicable today?” he questioned
“We also noticed that Mangaluru City Corporation members have threatened the shop owners to close down the shops, and hinted they will create trouble for these shop owners in future if they don’t comply with their demands. Congress made women passengers get down from the auto and were seen protesting at Jyothi. I visited the spot and questioned the police. Despite of troubling people and interrupting the vehicle movement, the protestors were not arrested. When we conducted Raasta Roko within minutes we were arrested. But when Congress protested for more than an hour at Jyothi circle they were not detained. Some even belonged to the police department and indirectly supported this bundh,” lashed out the MLA.
"We also condemn the act of Congress leaders forcibly closing down the hospital canteen at Jyothi. What will be situation of the patients? They have even pelted stones to Shivabagh hotel and attacked rickshaw driver at Mannagudde. We demand district administration and police department to give complete details about the action taken, and register cases against the protestors,” he demanded.
Free food and water distributed
The bundh vastly affected the normal life in Mangaluru region. Several people remained stranded at bus stands without food as hotels remained closed. Acting to the tip off, Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath distributed free food and water to people stranded at various places including State bank and KSRTC bus stand.
Corporator Premananda Shetty, Roopa D Bangera, Ravi Shankar Mijar and others were present.