Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Apr 11: Just a day ahead of the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, BJP MLA Raghupati Bhat and MP Shobha Karandlaje, who is also the BJP's candidate for Udupi-Chikkamagaluru seat, on Wednesday April 10 tried to placate people affected by sand mining ban who had earlier announced a boycott of the Lok Sabha elections.

The MLA and the MP held a meeting with the sand protest committee here and urged them not to boycott the elections for any reason, and to vote without fail.

They assured them that the sand extraction ban will be revoked immediately after the elections are over.

"People who have been affected by the ban have no reason to fear, as the deputy commissioner herself has said that the ban would be lifted soon after the elections," they said.

They also informed the committee that the central and the state governments have given approval for sand extraction.

"A meeting will be held with the deputy commissioner and a 7-member delegation, and 7.80 metric tonnes of sand will be distributed. As the election code of conduct is in place, the work is pending," they said.

The committee decided to wait until the day of polling in Udupi (April 18), and to launch a protest again if sand extraction was not allowed by April 19.

ZP president Dinakar Babu, sand protest committee members Lokesh Mendon, Shyam Sundar and others were present.