Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)
Kundapur, Mar 14: The labour protest, which was planned two months in advance, to he held on March 14, urging the administration to bring ‘Sand Extraction Policy’ could not be held due to the Election Code of Conduct (ECC).
It is said that when the labour leaders approached the SP, she was not available. When they sought the permission from deputy commissioner (DC), she denied the same. The labourers who were frustrated resorted to protest without permission on Thursday, March 14 but the election officers did not allow the same. This incident occurred at the Shastri Circle of the town.
Three labour unions affiliated to the CITU organizations had formed a coordinating committee and decide to hold day/night fast from March 14 at Shastri Circle to highlight the plight of the labourers who are facing hardships due to the sand extraction issue and shortage of sand. Pamphlets of the same were printed and distributed also. However, as the ECC is in action, the union leaders decided to hold a one-day protest on March 14 instead of the originally planned, indefinite day/night protest. But when they went to the office of SP, the SP was not available. When they approached the DC, the DC said that there is no permission to protest in group as there is ECC. At last, the leaders of the labour unions decided to submit a memorandum by taking a procession from Shastri Circle to Mini Vidhana Soudha without the use of loud speakers.
On the morning of Thursday, March 14, when the labourer gathered, with their union flags, for the protest, police arrived at the spot. There were heated arguments between the police and the gathered protesters. Immediately, the election officers arrived at the place of protest and instructed that only leaders of the labour unions can give the appeal to the tahsildar. But the labourers did not budge. At last, the deputy tahsildar reported to the spot and received the appeal from the labourers.
In the appeal, the labour unions have urged the administration to either give permission to extract sand immediately or let the government extract the sand and distribute for a minimum price. Otherwise, the labour unions will boycott the elections.
Suresh Kallagara, chief secretary of the organization and Das Bhandary, president led the protest.