Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network –Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jan 6: It has been five months since the death of Aatish. The 20-year-old engineering student had died in a two-wheeler accident after he tried to avoid a pothole at Bikarnakatte in August last year.
After five months, Aatish’s parents who were seeking justice for their son from the government, have lost all hopes as the promises the government made have become false. The family is in dire straits after losing their son. The family has to pay an educational loan and are staying in a rented house. Aatish’s sister is still pursuing her studies. Aatish’s parents were a very happy couple as they hoped that their son would land himself in a good job after his education and look after the family and bring them out from their difficulties. After his death, all the hopes of the family are completely shattered.
Aatish (left) and Prathima
The spot where Aatish met with accident
Speaking to Daijiworld, Aatish’s mother Prathima said, “It has been five months since the death of my son Aatish who lost his life due to a pothole at Bikarnakatte. The MP, MLA, and corporator have not come forward to help us in the last five months. What had Aatish done? Was he a terrorist that people representatives did not pay even a condolence visit? Can we call them as MLA and MP who do not understand the pain of a mother? The MLA’s residence is just five minutes away from our house and he has no time to speak or respond to our problem.
Aatish and his father worked for party
“My husband has worked for the ruling party relentlessly. A week before the death of Aatish, he worked for the shakas. Two people from a shaka visited us after Aatish’s death and gave assurance. But after that, they are not to be seen. Our area corporator is also a lady. Unfortunately, she also does not understand my pain.”
MP, MLA focus only on elections
“We can see the banners of the MP and MLA which say ‘Hemmeya Shasakaru’ (Proud MLA). We cannot be proud of those who do not understand the pain of a mother. They just focus on elections without responding to our pain. They will never come to our house as they will not earn any political mileage. During elections, they will come 10 times a day to our house to campaign.”
Aatish a good son, was supposed to go to Australia for work
“Aatish was a very good son, obedient, hardworking and disciplined. We were dependent on him as he had to take care of us and his sister. He was not an alcoholic or addicted to drugs. He lost his life to the apathy of the authorities. He was supposed to go to Australia after his exam results. We bring up our children with great difficulty and educate them. We do not want to lose our children due to the irresponsibility of the government.”
When BJP workers do not get justice, what can a common man expect?
Aatish and his father worked a lot for the party. When they do not get justice, can we expect justice for a common man? We do not want a leader who wins due to Modi’s name, but vote for those who deserve to win. What can we do with a leader who does not have time to visit us and respond to our pain? I urge people to support us in our fight to get justice for our late son.”
We were stopped from protesting
“Aatish’s friend Likhith Rai staged a solo protest seeking justice. Later, we were asked to stop the protest during Independence Day by some leaders including the MUDA chairman who is the friend of my husband for the past 30 years. Even during Modi’s visit, we were promised help and asked not to protest. During Modi’s visit, the road was repaired overnight. If Modi visited a month earlier, Aatish would have survived.”
Now where are those who asked to stop our protest?
“Where are those now who silenced us from protesting? Aatish was a Hindu. Where is justice even if he is a Hindu? We are in a bad situation after the death of my son and these leaders were taking out rallies during Independence Day. They have time for the rally. Do we really need such leaders? Will these leaders seek vote from NHAI as these leaders claim that pothole repair comes under NHAI.
“We had invited the MLA for my son’s 13th day ritual which he did not attend. If there is any inauguration or foundation stone laying ceremony, these leaders will be ready to attend. The MP and MLA do not have any concern or regret regarding the incident. They will understand the pain when they lose any one of their own.”
Think before sending your children for political party work
Prathima also warned other parents to think twice before sending their children for any political party work. “When there is any trouble, party leaders will never come forward to help you,” she said.
The family has an educational loan up to Rs 3 lac, and are staying in a rented house for Rs 7000 per month.
What if Aatish was killed by a Muslim?
“At the time of elections, they will come 10 times a day to your house to campaign. When they come for campaigning this time, I will tell each and every one about the injustice meted to us. If Aatish was killed by a Muslim, then definitely, these people would have gathered in my house in large numbers, would have given more than crores of money and built a house as well. I will never be silent until we get justice.”
BJP state president’s statement and local MLA’s defends him
On the other hand, as elections are inching closer, Dakshina Kannada MP and state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel asked party cadres to not discuss roads, drainage or potholes but to discuss love jihad with the voters. The statement stoked controversy. MLA Dr Bharath Y Shetty defended the statement. “The BJP state president has asked party workers to let go of the matters of road works and create an atmosphere of poison in the society instead. The construction of roads is a concern of the elected representatives,” said Prathima.
Social activist Prasanna Ravi said, “If Aatish was killed by a Muslim, then the family would have got crores of compensation and a house. The MP needs to be ashamed of his statement. MLA Bharath Shetty's residence is close to Aatish’s residence. Still he has not visited their house.
“Election is inching closer. Just because people gheraoed Nalin’s car, a house was built for slain Praveen Nettaru. Many fought the elections over Hindu members’ dead bodies. If Aatish was killed by a Muslim, then these leaders themselves would have conducted all the rituals, Aatish’s mother is also a Hindu. Bajrang Dal’s women wing Durgavahini also has not come forward to help. Hindu is used only for politics and to safeguard the vote bank.
“On love Jihad, girls’ parents are there to question them. Your help is not required. Now the banners of MLAs have been erected everywhere ahead of elections. The day is not far when we will hang garlands on your banner paying tributes.
“Everyone should put black ink on the face of these leaders. The curse of a mother will never spare these leaders. The MLAs here have come to power in the name of religion. The time has come where religious politics will backfire all of them. No one has given these Hindu organisations the responsibility of a girl to protect them. The parents of every girl are present to take responsibility. These Hindu organisations should stop preaching Hindutva on social media and instead visit Aatish’s residence and look at their condition. So far, the family has not received help worth a single rupee.
“The MLA defended Nalin’s statement. The MLA does not care if people die due to potholes. I challenge MLA Bharath to distribute pamphlets which say that he will contest elections over the agenda of love jihad and not for development. While he threatens GAIL officials to put them behind bars, why is he not threatening the NHAI officials for irresponsible work which claims lives of innocent people? If love jihad is important, why Bharath got the potholes filled during Modi’s visit. Bharath should have shown the potholes to Modi to be called as the number one MLA. The BJP has a team of social media experts working for money and commenting below the belt,” she said.
It may be recalled, after the accident on August 5, 2022, the public too expressed outrage over the negligence of the officials in filling the potholes on city roads. The netizens have demanded that a murder complaint be filed against the officials concerned. Some others have vented out their anguish against the elected representatives too.
Soon after his death, Likith Rai staged a solo protest seeking justice for Aatish on August 11, 2022 at Mangaluru City Corporation. He also staged another solo protest at Nanthoor.
Aatish was good at academics and was awaiting his final year civil engineering exam results. His result was out on August 10. He has scored 439 marks in five subjects with 87.8%.
Donors who wish to help the late Aatish’s family can follow the below details:
Prathima
AC No: 1852500101145501
Karnataka Bank, Derebail branch
IFSC Code: KARB0000185