Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 31: The merchants and residents of Car Street in the town, who are at loggerheads with the district administration over its recent order to make Car Street a vehicles-free zone permanently, had given a call for a ‘Car Street Bandh’ here on saturday, January 30.

The Car Street Traders and Residents Association has organized the programme. Almost all the shops and establishments located in Car Street except banks, had downed their shutters. The traders and the residents, who have been arguing that there is no need to keep Car Street out of bounds permanently for vehicles, sat in dharna in front of the office of the district deputy commissioner here, from 10 am onwards. The dharna continued till 4 pm.

While the district administration has been claiming that the ban has been ordered to foil attempts if any, that would be made by the terrorists to storm Car Street, which houses Srikrishna Mutt, eight mutts and several temples, which can become soft targets, the residents feel that the administration is unreasonable. The administration also has been saying that it is taking steps in tune with the reports of the intelligence agencies about such efforts made by the terrorists in the town in the past, and also the directions received from the state government that has emphasized the need to protect sensitive areas. The residents of the area are proposed to be issued with identity cards and in phases, the area is planned to be converted into a high security zone.

Former MP, Vinay Kumar Sorake, former MLA, Gopal Poojary, Janardhan Bhandarkar, Amrut Shenoy etc., led the protestors. The protestors said, they had decided to undertake the peaceful ‘Satyagraha’ in tune with the ideals of Gandhiji, on his death anniversary.

It is unlikely that this dharna will have any impact on the district administration’s plans to make Car Street a vehicles-free zone, as it has been going ahead with the execution of its plan.