Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Nov 5: The Surathkal Toll Gate Virodhi Horata Samithi has indicated its intention to continue the ongoing indefinite agitation if MP Nalin Kumar Kateel fails to fulfill his promise of scrapping Surathkal toll gate on November 7.
The protest entered the ninth day on Saturday, November. On October 16, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had asked for 20 days’ time to scrap Surathkal toll gate, which ends on November 7, the protesters said.
Speaking to daijiworld, the samithi convenor Muneer Katipalla said, “We are aware that MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and BJP MLAs have not fulfilled their promises made so far pertaining to the removal of the toll gate. We will continue our protest after November 7 as people should not forget the promises made by Nalin Kumar Kateel. We will protest till the collection of tolls stops or gets scrapped completely.”
“After November 7, the protest will take a severe turn. Nalin had said that the toll gate will be scrapped. Will it be scrapped after his resignation or after he loses the election? We demand his resignation. He should take responsibility for his failures. I guarantee that the toll gate will get scrapped within 24 hours after his resignation.
“We deny political angle in this protest. Nalin Kumar had protested with regard to Yettinahole, Is that not politics? Every political leader is welcome to the protest venue. If Nalin Kumar Kateel is willing to join the protest after his resignation we will welcome him as well. BJP leaders are ashamed to show their faces to the public. So they are alleging that our protest has taken a political turn,” he said.
He said he was also aware that there were high profile BJP leaders running the toll gate and were with Navayuga contractors. He said the NHAI authorities had said that they are awaiting a signature from the central government to remove the toll gate. “Why is it taking so long for a signature? The MP and MLAs have no courage to convince the central government over closure of toll gate,” said Muneer.
“After November 7, we plan to protest opposite the MLA and MP’s offices and lay siege to them. Black flags will be displayed and also take a protest march in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district. The chief minister is visiting Udupi on November 7 and we expect that he will take another road to reach Udupi from Mangaluru. But they have decided to take him in a helicopter directly to Udupi from Bengaluru,” he added.
The members of the samithi have been continuously raising their voice to remove the Surathkal toll gate. As part of the protest, samithi had conducted ‘Toll Gate Chalo’ from Hejamady to Surathkal toll gate on March 22 and staged a protest on September 13 where the samithi warned that they will lay siege to the Surathkal toll gate on October 18.
On October 18, protestors gathered in large numbers and crossed the barricade put up by the police. Several leaders were arrested.