Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 2: Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, U T Khader, visited Suratkal where uninterrupted agitation was on demanding closure of Suratkal tollgate on NH 66, and pleaded with the protesters to end their stir on Thursday November 1. Respecting his plea and on the basis of promises made by him, the action committee decided to end the unbroken agitation.

The minister assured that after holding meeting at the office of the deputy commissioner here, a state level meeting of national highways authority would be organized within a week. A memorandum will also be submitted to the union government by leading a delegation, seeking either merger of the tollgate or its closure, Khader said. He also requested the agitators to put an end to their agitation.

The action committee decided to respect the request of the minister and end the agitation for now. It however warned that if the demands of the protesters are not met, the committee will have all the options including holding of agitation again, open.

Former minister, B Ramanath Rai, announced that he will join the fight if the central government does not uphold the request of the state government. Convener of the action committee, Muneer Katipalla, in his introductory address, announced that the dharna was being withdrawn based on the assurances made by the minister.

Former minister, Abhayachandra Jain, former MLAs, Vijayakumar Shetty and Moideen Bava, Ivan D'Souza, taluk panchayat president, Muhammed Monu, Mithun Rai, Purushotham Chitrapur, Pratibha Kulai, Revathi Puthran, assistant commissioner, Ravichandra Nayak, and several other leaders were present.