Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Dec 5: "Demanding withdrawal of the ongoing Yettinahole project, the Netravati Samrakshana Samyukta Samiti will hold 'Pancha Teertha Sapta Kshetra, Ratha Yatra' on December 10,11 and 12," informed Vijay Kumar Shetty, president of Netravati Samrakshana Samyukta Samiti.
Addressing a press meet here on Monday December 5, Shetty said, "The Ratha Yatra will start from Subramanya and pass through Dharmasthala, Uppinangady, Polali, Kadri, Bappanadu and culminate at Kateel. Many political leaders and organizations have extended their support. We also welcome all the people who wish to support our cause.
"Despite many protests and dialogues with people's representatives, the state government is hell bent on implementing the project. But the sad part is even people still do not understand the seriousness of the issue.
"If district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai were to give a statement that he would resign if the project was implemented, then chief minister Siddaramaiah would definitely stop this project. But we do not know why he is reluctant to do so. I have openly told that if he resigns from the minister's post we will take a delegation of 50,000 people and pressurize the chief minister to reinstall him in the cabinet," he said.
"Former union minister B Janardhan Poojary has also extended his complete support to the rally," he added.
Samiti convenor M G Hegde said, "No flag of any political party will be allowed in the protest rally. Only Netravati Samiti's flag will be waved. Let this be a warning to the district in-charge minister, the government and the district administration. If the government does not come to any conclusion before January 26, 2017, we will definitely turn their political existence, whether they can turn (divert) the Netravati river or not. We have also sent letters to all the people's representatives. Irrespective of political affiliation, everyone who opposes the Yettinahole can join the protest."
Member of parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel, former deputy mayor Purushotham Chitrapur, religious heads of all the religions and many others will take part in the Ratha Yatra, the Samiti informed.
Former MLC Monappa Bhandary and many others were present at the press meet.