Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SM/NR)

Mangalore, Aug 6: A one-day programme on ‘Challenges facing pro-people movement’ was organized by the Karnataka Janapara Vedike here, on Saturday August 4.

Speaking on the occasion Kalkuli Vithal Hegde, president of Kudremukh Rashtriya Udyan Virodhi Horata Okkoota stated that the scope for pro-people movements was reducing these days owing to the offensive side of globalization.

He rued the fact that the establishment did not like any person inquiring about the problems faced by the common man. Police force was used to suppress pro-people movements, he opined.

The repression of Gurgaon labour unrest and the recent police firing in Andhra Pradesh showed the kind of force used by the establishment.

He said that he was involved in the fight for certain rights of tribal people in the Kudremukh National Park (KNP) area. But the establishment labelled him as “Naxal supporter”.

Since the government was in favor of smooth implementation of the Kudremukh National Park project, it suspected that the Okkoota was provoking the tribal people to rebel against the government, he averred.

Hegde further stated that the tribal man was not even allowed to purchase extra rice and kerosene. If they did, the police thought it was meant to help the naxalites, he added.

Writer Hayavadana Upadhya and convenor of the vedike Sriram Divana were present on the occasion.