Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)
Sullia, Jan 31: Addressing a large gathering at Subrahmanya on Friday January 30 that had come together to show solidarity against the likely implementation of Kasturirangan report that deals with steps needed to protect forests, Virajpet MLA and former assembly speaker K G Bopaiah insisted that forests have been saved because of the divinity and respect with which people treat them.
"Forests are not saved and conserved because of the efforts of officials. The present forest policy comprises plundering and sharing the booty. Before implementing any schemes in Malnad region, it is necessary for the concerned to understand the natural flow of the region. Influential people have worked behind the creation of Kasturirangan report," Bopaiah said.
He was addressing a huge protest meeting organized at Subrahmanya PU College ground in the taluk on Friday January 30 afternoon to protest against the implementation of Kasturirangan report which is said to be detrimental to farmers. People from 46 villages from Puttur, Sullia, and Beltangady taluks participated in the meeting. He called upon people's representatives to stop the practice of treating people as God only during election time, and always keep their interests in mind, by giving them the status of god.
The protest was organized under the aegis of Malnad Janahita Rakshana Vedike.
In his address, Subrahmanya Math head, Sri Vidyaprasannateertha Swamiji, strongly advocated the belief that sacrificing interests of thousands of people to safeguard the interests of a few is a heinous crime. He exhorted the people to continue their fight against this report through all possible ways including seeking legal recourse.
Beltangady Bishop, Lawrence Mukkuzhi, also felt that the need of the hour is to be united by sinking differences of religion, status, etc for fighting against schemes which harm people's interests. Kishore Shiradi, convener of the Vedike, blamed people's representatives for remaining as moot spectators when hydel power projects were set up by destroying forests. He also felt that the elected representatives had let the people down by not raising their voices against Kasturirangan report. He warned the concerned that they will be responsible for any adverse results if the people are compelled to forgo patience and take law into their hands to protest themselves.
MLA, S Angara, also said that the need of the hour is to come together and stay united till the desired result is obtained. He recalled that unity among people had succeeded in several past protests.
Heads of several churches like Fr Thomas of Udane church, Fr Sebastian of Guthigar church, and Fr P K Abraham Addahole, zilla panchayat president, Asha Thimmappa Gowda, zilla panchayat member Balakrishna Banajalu, Sullia block Congress president, Venkappa Gowda, Congress leader, Bharat Mundody, Raita Hitarakshana Samiti president, Hamid Idnoor, and several others were present.
Jayaprakash Koojugodu welcomed. Damodar Gundya delivered introductory address. Dhananjaya Balya proposed vote of thanks.
Although the pamphlet distributed earlier had named 29 people's represnetatives as participants of the programme, only eight out of them were present. Prominent absentees were MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Beltangady MLA, Vasant Bangera, Puttur MLA, Shakuntala Shetty, Karkala MLA, Sunil Kumar, and MLC, Capt Ganesh Karnik. As the meeting got extended beyond expected time, the consultative meeting that was proposed to be held with people's representatives got cancelled.