Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)
Mangalore, July 25: The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in association with the Undivided Dakshina Kannada District Train Passengers Association, Mangalore Civilian Action Committee, and several other organizations will hold a rally and protest on Saturday July 25, in front of Mangalore Central railway station.
Their primary demands are cancellation of the proposed extension of the Mangalore-Bangalore train to Kannur, and the introduction of a day train to Bangalore.
Addressing media persons on Friday July 24 Srinivas S Kamath, KCCI president, said, “All associations will start the rally on July 25 after submitting a memorandum to the deputy commissioner at 11.30 am. It will move towards Mangalore Central railway station where there will be a demonstration highlighting our demands”.
Kamath said that the KCCI and the other organizations had come together to fight against the injustice in the railway budget 2009-10, which proposed the extension of the Yeshavanthpur (Bangalore)-Mangalore (6517) train to Kannur in Kerala.
“With this extension, the seats for Mangaloreans will be limited to only 60 instead of 400 earlier”, he added.
Kamath also said that a day train was sanctioned three years ago but it is still only on paper.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), Nowkarara Hitarakshana Vedike president B S Chandru said, “About seven organizations, i.e. Nowkarara Hitarakshana Vedike, Nagarika Hitarakshana Vedike, Bharat Kamagari Mattu Bus Shramik Sangha, Namma Mane Namma Ooru, Lorry Owners’ Association, and Karnataka Dairy Mattu Halu Okkutagala Nowkarara Federation, will support the movement”.
Meanhwile, Nagarika Hitarakshana Vedike convener Hanumanth Kamath said he would not support the KCCI-led protest.
“The way in which they are planning to protest on July 25 will have no effect at all and such demonstrations were done in yesteryears and are pointless”, he said. Hanumanth Kamath added that he would join a protest which will reach the railway ministry in Delhi.