Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Apr 18: The district unit of Aam Admi Party (AAP), on Friday April 18, protested against the collection of higher toll charges at Brahmara Kootlu toll gate in spite of an order by the deputy commissioner (DC) prohibiting this.  

As per the election code of conduct, the DC had strictly ordered against hiking of toll charges, but the contractors, blatantly disobeying the instructions, have increased the rates. The protestors shouted slogans against the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and demanded that the vehicle drivers pay the old rates.

Speaking to the media, AAP’s MP candidate M R Vasudeva condemned the move of the contractors. He said, “It is daylight robbery. We had held a protest on April 1, 2014, because they hiked the charges when the election code of conduct was in effect. The deputy commissioner had responded to this and he had written that the toll should not be increased. Even after 17 days of the DC’s order, they haven’t followed it and hence, the protest was organized.”

Vasudeva had spoken to the NHAI over phone and demanded that they change the newly revised board and replace it with the old board which has the old rates.

On this occasion, Gopalakrishna Melanta and police inspector Jayanth Kalooru were present.

AAP Press Meet

Hours after the protest, Vasudeva, addressing the press meet at the AAP district office in the city, said, “Though the DC has ordered against increase in toll charges, NHAI and its contractors are collecting higher rates from vehicle drivers. This is violation of the election code of conduct. This is like daylight robbery and ‘organized loot’. AAP will  go to court. If the price rate is increased even after May 17, 2014, we will gather information through RTI and file a PIL.”