Daijiworld Media Network-Udupi (HB)

Udupi, May 27: The members of Karnataka Dalit Sangarsha Samiti (DSS) Maha Okkuta were seen split into two groups as one group staged a protest in front of Clock tower demanding transfer of deputy commissioner R Vishal and the other was happy with the works undertaken by him on Friday May 27.

Addressing the protesters, Shekhar Hejamadi said, “District authority has issued 186 permits to owners for traditional sand mining. But they differentiate in providing license to people belonging to ST community. District authority has issued license to two members of a family. It is against law to grant two permits to a single family. Only 15 licenses were given to women candidates.”

“District authority is directly involved in corrupt dealings from sand dealers. Deputy commissioner should be transferred from Udupi,” he demanded.

The committee members demanded the district authority to provide SC/ST reservation in CRZ sand mining for Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada.

Angered protesters burned the effigy of DC at the clock tower Udupi.

In contrast, other Dalit committee members supported Udupi deputy commissioner and appreciated his works.

Manjunath Giliyaru in a press meet, at Brahmagiri on Friday, May 27 spoke in favour of DC and appreciated his work for SC/ST communities.

“He has been doing works for the betterment of SC/ST communities. He worked hard in installation of new Ambedkar statue at a cost of Rs 40 lac in a year.”

“Deputy commissioner has also passed an order to make the jobs of contract workers under reservation as permanent.” 

Hitting back to DSS committee, he said, “DC has granted license to 20 members of SC/ST community for the first time.”