Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Mangaluru, Dec 1: The bus between State bank-Thoudugoli, route number 54, suspended for the last four months due to political vendetta has finally restarted its service on Friday, December 1.
BJP leader Thoudugoli resident Udaya Kumar Shetty has been running the bus for the last three years. The permit of the bus is old. As the bus that was reaching Mangaluru from Thoudugoli via Kotekar Beeri was incurring losses, he had succeeded in obtaining permission to run the bus via Deralakatte-Kuthar route. But other bus owners, posing different reasons asked police through RTO to stop the bus four months ago.
The bus owner and villagers later met the RTO opposing suspension of the bus service and presented legal documents to prove that there was nothing illegal with the operation. As the RTO did not budge, the owner met the deputy commissioner. The DC and the elected representative also gave negative response. The bus owner kept spending on the bus. The DC reportedly responded that he was unable to permit resumption due to external pressure. The owner of the bus, who realized that the DC cannot stop the bus as there were court orders to this effect, served notice to the DC for contempt of court. Thereafter, the DC permitted the resumption of bus services.
Local leaders T G Rajaram Bhat, K Ravindra Shetty Ulidottu, Narayana Shetty Balethottu, Navin Shetty Mandalpady, bus owner Udayakumar Shetty, Chandrahas N Sarkudelu, Girish Alva Garody, Chandrashekar Shetty Marippala, Jagadish Alva Kuvethabailu, Nandiraja Shetty Pinjinabailu, Premananda Rai Nethilakodi, Vishwanath Shetty Morla, Muralidhar Shetty, Ananda Neerolike, Bhagya Talapady, Harinakshi Nethila, Siraj Thoudugoli, Hameed S Shantipalike, Punith Shetty and others were present as everyone happily welcomed the bus.
BJP block president Santhosh Rai Boliar said that stopping the bus that was running legally is revenge politics by elected representatives. “It is unfortunate that the DC was expressing his inability to resume the bus service. Bus owner Udaya has succeeded as local people have supported him,” said T G Rajaram Bhat.
Free trips
Udaya Kumar Shetty said that two trips on December 1 will be offered free to celebrate his success in the battle. He has asked the concerned not to trouble ordinary people with evil intent.