Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Dec 15: "Incidents in Gangolli would not have aggravated, had the police and district administration taken preemptive steps to control them. Failure of police department and district administration is evident in this case. When such incidents occur in Mangaluru, the concerned have been able to clamp section 144. But when the situation in Gangolli warrants such a step, such an action was not taken. This defies reasoning and common sense. Failure of the police department is clearly visible," said Byndoor MLA, Gopal Poojary.

Addressing a press conference held here on Sunday December 14, Poojary noted that a series of incidents of serious nature were happening in Gangolli one after the other. These included blocking of national highway for three hours. "In spite of this, neither did the district administration take any firm steps, nor did the deputy commissioner of the district visit the place. This attitude depicts lack of interest on the part of the administration to manage law and order situation. A systematic campaign is now under way, blaming me for not attending the peace meet. The officials had not given me even minimum information about the meeting. I continued to be in the constituency all the 11 days since trouble began, and did everything to help ease the situation. But it is made out as if I did not evince enthusiasm to strive for peace," he claimed.

Poojary said that he had visited the spot after he was informed of the disturbances as a representative of the constituency, duly asserting that his visit was backed by no other purpose. "The people of the constituency have elected me as their representative four times. I have never breached the trust reposed by them on me, not have I sided with one community to inflict injustice on the other. I have never got involved with abetting rivalry between different communities or religions, and I do not have any faith in this kind of low level politics. Some people are giving communal colour to the Gangolli incidents which occurred accidentally, with the aim of getting political mileage. I condemn the people behind these acts if they were backed by malafide intentions. Being clear in mind and heart that I have always done right things, I am prepared for a debate on these issues at any dais. At the same time, I do not wilt under political tactics aimed at intimidating me," he said.

"At the time I visited Gangolli in the company of district incharge minister, Vinay Kumar Sorake, and Rajya Sabha member, Oscar Fernandes, we had jointly said that miscreants responsible for the trouble should be punished, irrespective of to which community, caste, or religion they belong to. I am committed to this stand even now," he asserted, adding that stern steps should be taken against anyone found guilty for the incidents here.

Poojary said he had worked diligently and honestly to address issues like road development, port development, kerosene scarcity etc. "I have a balanced mindset, and can never stop loving people from all sections and religions in the society. 'To ensure that Gangolli remains peaceful as ever and law and order situation is always kept under control there, steps will soon be taken to shift Gangolli police station, which is located far away adjacent to national highway 66 now, into the town. As I am not guilty of doing anything wrong, I have no hesitation or fear to visit any places within my constituency," he said.

Former vice president of zilla panchayat, Raju Devadiga, was present at the press conference.