Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Oct 28: Ullal, which has often been in the news for communal tensions and gang fights on Tuesday October 27 sported serene environment of harmony and universal brotherhood, as people shed all other issues and came together under a single umbrella of river diversion. Netravati Bridge, where this beautiful environment came alive, brought to the minds of the people the memories of harmonious atmosphere the area was once known for.
Before independence, and long after it, Ullal had witnessed harmonious coexistence between Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. As political forces got desalinated and sought to regroup and fortify themselves by employing different tactics, the environment of harmony got vitiated. The revolution Dakshina Kannada district is presently witnessing in the name of River Netravati conservation seems to have gagged the forces which tended to reap benefits out of fanning rivalry between different sections of the society in the name of caste, creed, and religion.
At the all-religion prayer programme organized by Ullal zone Netrvati Conservation Committee in association with various organizations and institutions saw participation by over a thousand people belonging to different castes, walks of life, and religions. The protesters went by walk from the new bus stand to Netravati Bridge where prayer was offered.
Sri Rajashekharananda Swamiji of Vajradehi Math Gurpur, who participated in the protest procession, warned that the people of the district may face shortage of water and lack of nutrition which districts like Chikkaballapur and Kolar are now encountering. "The people's representatives, who have been planning to rob this district of its underground water table through unscientific Yettinahole project, are making fools of the people, and at the same time, filling their coffers. By distributing jagggery and water on November 1 at Kadri temple, we will keep the momentum of this agitation alive, and continue to create more activists to oppose this project," he stated.
Principal of Al Furqan Arabic Institute, Thokkottu, Maulana Yahya Tangal Madani, in his address, said that the fight against the project will be a tremendous success as people from all religions have got united to oppose a project that threatens to ring death knell for them in future. "Religious scriptures have stated that destruction of natural resources is wrong. The people's representatives, before implementing any project, should study what their religious scriptures say about such things. This is the right of the poor people. The people's representatives should revisit the issue and withdraw this project," he demanded.
Dean of Mangalore Diocese (south zone), John Baptist D'Souza, speaking on the occasion, said that a fight by the equals is being carried out to maintain equilibrium of nature. He called upon the concerned to keep the agitation alive till the government drops this project. "We should never allow anyone to break the unified structure of river which is formed with the combination of its tributaries. If everyone nurtures mutual relationship and come together as a unified force, we will be able to retain our river. For that to happen, let us keep up the pressure up through agitations," he advised.
The prayer programme witnessed large number of participation by women, who outnumbered men. As women from all the religions and Christians nuns took part in large numbers, the programme proved to be a grand success. The fact that the driver of a vehicle carrying still painting depicting offering of worship to River Netravati also was a woman came in for special appreciation. Driving of this truck by Renuka from Thikkottu Volapete, who works as teacher in a motor driving school, appeared to infuse further strength to the presence of women. While the painting was created by artiste, JP, husband of Renuka, Eknath, had arranged for the vehicle.
The support extended to the agitation by Christian community persons who were in boats which floated in the river, was an additional attraction of the programme. Over 30 persons boarding two country boats from Adamkudru, who were holding banners opposing the said project, extended their support to the agitation while remaining in water.
Various organizations including Kapikad Umamaheshwari temple, Ullal Bhagawati temple, Thokkottu Nagakannika Rakteshwari temple, Thokkottu Vithoba Rukmayi temple, Thokkottu Gouri Ganesha Mahila Mandali, Thokkottu Overbridge Sarvajanika Ganeshotsava Samiti, Thokkottu Vasuki Seva Sangha, Vishwa Hindu Parishat Ullal, Bajrang Dal, South Kanara Tailors Association, Thokkottu Auto Rickshaw drivers and owner association, Vehicle drivers and owners association Thokkottu, Merchants Association Thokkottu, ABC Thokkottu, Kesari Mitra Mandali Kumpala, St Sebastian church Permannur, Vidya Sahaya Matha church Vidyadharanagara, Our Lady the Queen of the Universe church Ranipura, Our Lady of Mercy church Paneer, St Lawrence church Taudugoli, St Thomas church Sajipa, Indian Catholic Youth Movement, SKSSF, Jammath-e-Islami Education, Wisdom Welfare Association Mudipu, Rotary and Lions Clubs Ulal, Tulunada Rakshana Vedike Ullal and several others organizations and institutions extended support to the protest programme.
Kolya Sri Ramananda Swamiji, vicar general of Mangalore diocese Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu, Netravati Conservation Committee president, Raveendra Shetty Ulidottu Harekala, vice president, Felix Monteiro, U Abdul Karim, Flavy D'Souza, Rajeevi Kempumannu, Ruksana Ummer, Ajit Kumar Ullal, former MLA, Jayaram Shetty, zilla panchayat vice president, Satish Kumpala member, Santosh Kumar Rai Boliyar, Annayya Kulal, and Yogeesh Shetty Jeppu were among those who were present.