Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Oct 28: The Toll Gate Virodhi Horata Samithi began its indefinite (day and night) protest on Friday October 28 urging to remove Surathkal toll gate.
Convenor of the samithi Muneer Katipalla said, “We will not stop protesting until toll collection stops here or the toll gate is removed. On October 16, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had asked to give 20 days’ time to scrap Surathkal toll gate, which means November 7 will be the last date for his promise made. When you look at the progress made, the MP’s words cannot be believed.
“The district administration under deputy commissioner Dr Kumara conducted a meeting which shows their concern towards us. They are also fed up with the dates changing every now and then. The NHAI official in the meeting said that the file has reached the central ministry for a signature. Why so much delay for a signature? Who is delaying the notification from getting a signature? Why cannot the MLAs pressurise the government to get the notification signed?
“Is Navayuga company behind this which has reached the Prime Minister’s office? Nalin has no courage and no one values his words at the centre. The BJP is blaming Oscar Fernandes for the toll gate. During Oscar Fernandes’ tenure, there was no proposal for the Hejamady toll gate. In the year 2015, Hejmady toll was set up. If there was no Hejamady toll gate, then it was not necessary for us to protest.
“Nalin promised four years ago that Surathkal toll gate will be merged. Even MLA Dr Bharath Y Shetty had asked to destroy the Surathkal toll gate who now behaves unaware of any development related to the toll plaza. Nalin says that he will go to the court regarding this issue. Why should he go to the court when he cannot take any decision? Let him resign.
“Since 1991, BJP MPs are being elected here. Till today, they have only diverted the minds of people. The BJP protested over Yettinahole and blocked roads for the same. On the other hand, under the current BJP’s rule, they have served us notice claiming that we interrupted traffic movement by protesting. The BJP has done many such road blockages during Yettinahole protests. Unfortunately, even after coming to power, they have done nothing about it,” he said.
KPCC coordinator and Congress leader Prathibha Kulai said, “After October 18, many BJP leaders thought we were afraid. We are ready to face any consequences and our protest will continue until the Surathkal toll gate is scrapped. Nalin cannot be trusted as he is giving dates to scrap toll gate since 7 years now. Moreover, we all are witnesses for the Pumpwell flyover. If Surathkal toll gate is scrapped, then we will stop our agitation.”
Member of the samithi MG Hegde, Imthiyaz, legal advisor Dinesh Ullepady, Congress leaders Vinay Kumar Sorake, Ramanath Rai, Mohiuddin Bava, Purushottam Chitrapur and others were present.
It may be recalled, the samithi has been continuously raising their voice to scrap Surathkal toll gate. As part of protest, samithi had conducted ‘Toll Gate Chalo’ from Hejamady to Surathkal toll gate on March 22 and a protest on September 13 where the samithi warned that Surathkal toll gate will be gheraoed on October 18.
On October 18, protestors gathered in large numbers and crossed barricade put up by the police. Several leaders arrested.
The samithi decided to take up indefinite protest from October 28 demanding to scrap the toll gate.
On the wake of protest, deputy commissioner Dr Kumara had suggested to the samithi to put off its agitation scheduled for October 28 until the government officially passes a gazette notification to scrap the toll gate.