Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jun 10: The district Youth Congress committee had planned to hold 'Rail Roko' protest to register their protest against anti-people policies of the union government under BJP on Saturday June 10.

The protestors wanted to stop Mangaluru - Madgaon express train here for sometime as part of their protest, but the police did not give them permission to do so. This gave rise to friction between Youth Congress leaders and police for sometime at the local railway station on Saturday morning.

District Youth Congress president, Vishwas Amin, speaking on the occasion, verbally assailed the central government for its faulty policies. He came down heavily on Madhya Pradesh government for attacking its own farmers who were protesting against injustice. Terming the arrest of Rahul Gandhi, national Congress vice president, when proceeding to disturbed areas as undemocratic, he chose harsh words to criticize BJP.

Ameen said that the current government had fixed 18 percent goods and services tax (GST) on fertilizers, whereas the earlier UPA regime had made this product tax free to help farmers. He also demanded to upgrade the railway station in the city with added facilities for passengers. He criticized local MP, Shobha Karandlaje of BJP, for always undertaking trips, and not being available in her constituency for addressing grievances of the people here. He stated that the Youth Congress has planned protests all over the state today.

The leader was critical of former chief minister of Karnataka, B S Yeddyurappa, for rising to power in the name of farmers, and then doing nothing for their welfare. He warned that Congress will organize national level protest if atrocities being heaped against the farmers are not stopped forthwith.

Youth Congress leaders, Aziz, Yathish, and others were present.