Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (RJP/SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 27: Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament (MP) Nalin Kumar Kateel, said that he will undertake protest by way of fast unto death if the state government does not resolve the Kambala issue and shelve Yettinahole river diversion project by February 10.

"I firmly believe in Gandhian principles, and will undertake this measure with the support and blessings of spiritual heads of all the religions and also the general public," he announced. Kateel also warned of intensifying protests if the government fails to respond positively even to this measure.

Nalin Kumar was speaking in a programme held at Town Hall in city here on Thursday January 26, where a programme of garlanding statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar was undertaken to register protest against Yettinahole project.

Speaking to media persons, he expressed resentment at the fact that Yettinahole project is being given importance at a time when Dakshina Kannada district is facing the prospect of reeling under acute water scarcity. He urged the government to provide for undertaking detailed debate on Yettinahole project at the session of the state legislature beginning during February first week.

"The chief minister claims he had held meeting with the people of the coast. But he had held a meeting at Bengaluru indifferently and without responding to any of the demands. He did not give any weightage to opinions given by the people from the coast and environmentalists. We had warned of undertaking surgical strikes if the government does not shelve this project before January. Under the changed circumstances, we believe that the government will understand the seriousness of the matter and provide for detailed discussions at both houses of the legislature in the coming session," he said.

"I believe in the Gandhian principle of non-violence and Satyagraha.” Nalin added.

Netravati Samrakshana Samyukta Samiti president, Vijayakumar Shetty, who said that non-violent measures including surgical strikes will be undertaken to effectively thwart Yettinahole project, wanted to know why this project cannot be stopped, citing the example of Kudremukh project that has been shelved.

Activist, Harikrishna Bantwal, also spoke on the occasion. Deputy mayor, Sumitra Kariya, zilla panchayaat president, Meenakshi Shantigodu, Dr Annaiah Kulal, and many other leaders were present.