Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Sep 26: Vehicle owners and drivers staged a protest at Kundapur Shastri circle on Wednesday, opposing alleged police high handedness and collection of unscientific fines under Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 and deserting flyover work.

The coordination committee of Kundapur Taluk Auto Rickshaw and Vehicle Driver’s Association under CITU, Indian Auto Rickshaw Mazdoor Sangh under BMS and Kundapur Auto Rickshaw, Taxi and Matador Driver’s Association under INTUC took part in the protest.

The protesters urged the government to roll back the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, fix rates for old autos as old autos are being cancelled, government subsidy of Rs 50,000 and loan facility from nationalized banks. The demands included houses and colonies for auto drivers, to control insurance premiums for vehicles and fix separate premium. Provident fund and pension for auto drivers needs to be provided similar to West Bengal was another demand.

A security board for unorganized sector employees and welfare schemes is required. Roads should be developed. Flyover work at Shastri circle should be completed, the protesters urged.

Hundreds of protesters walked in protest on Kundapur's main road and submitted a memorandum to the chief minister through tahsildar Thippeswamy at mini Vidhana Saudha.

CITU president Laxman Barekattu, secretary Raju Devadiga, BMS president Suresh Putran, secretary Bhaskar, INTUC president Laxman Shetty, secretary Udaya Mani handed over the memorandum to the tahsildar and requested for the fulfillment of their demands.