Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Feb 19: The residents of Kadakeri in Kuppepadav led by JD(S) staged a protest on Tuesday February 19 demanding better roads.

The 2.5-km road from near Kadakeri is completely damaged and needs urgent attention as residents find it difficult to commute, they said.

Speaking during the protest, state vice-president Nagaraj Shetty of JD(S) said that the BJP government is busy with their internal conflict and they are least bothered about the welfare of the people. "Other than corruption, no other work was done during their tenure," he said.

Commenting on the bad roads, he said the residents have complained to the gram panchayat, MLAs, MPs and other officials several times but they did not get a positive response. Hence the residents of Kuppepadav have stepped on to the streets to protest irrespective of political differences, said Shetty.

Shetty asked the officials concerned to take the matter seriously and soon start the work of repairing the road. "If not, we will intensify the protest by holding a strike on the National Highway near Yedapadav," he warned.

Chandrahas Shetty, gram panchayat president, Pushpa Nayak, vice-president and other officials visited the spot and accepted the memorandum, while assuring positive action soon.

JD(S) leaders like Sureshchandra Shetty, Sudarshan Shetty, D M Aslam, Sadashivdas, CPI(M) leader among others were part of the protest.