Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jul 17: Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha member Nalin Kumar Kateel has reequested Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry to postpone its proposed 'Rail Roko' agitation that had been planned to be held at Mangalore Central railway station on July 25, as preparations are afoot for a round of discussions with the railway minister and the minister of state in that department on the issue shortly. Nalin said, he has been assured by the office of the railway minister that a meeting with the MP would be fixed with the ministers before July 25.

He said that the minister of state for railways, E Ahamed, had contacted him on this subject and expressed his desire to avoid friction between the people from different states, as it would not be in the best interests of the nation.  Ahamed also expressed the hope of settling the issue in an amicable manner, so that interests of the people from both the states are protected, he added. Nalin Kumar revealed, that he has already conveyed to the ministers in the department that he is not prepared for any compromise formula on the issue and that himself and Udupi MP Sadanand Gowda would not allow injustice to be heaped on the people of the coastal Karnataka.

During the discussions  with the railway minister, efforts would be made to convince her that the people of the Karnataka coast would be benefitted if an additional train service is introduced between Mangalore and Mumbai. Another demand for extending the proposed Mumbai-Karwar train up to mangalore would also be placed before the minister, he said.