Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Jun 4: The Forum for Protection of Mulgeni Tenants has condemned the delaying tactics being employed by the state government in bringing amendments to Karnataka Rent Act, which has the potential of being detrimental to the interests of the Mulgeni tenants in certain cases.
"The owners of the Mulgeni properties, who are trying to misuse provisions of the Rent Act that replaced the earlier Karnataka Rent Control Act with some amendments, are forcing the tenants to vacate their lands. They are threatening to claim rentals to the tune of several thousands of rupees for the land and file suits in the court, claiming dues running into huge sums. To obviate this, the government had been requested to bring amendments to clip the rights of the owners. But, the government which shed crocodile tears to our problems, failed to either bring amendments to the Rent Act or cancel the Mulgeni provisions," charged working president of the Forum K Dharmendra, addressing a press conference in the city on Wednesday June 3.
The Mulgeni tenancy problem has been particularly grave in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shimoga and Uttara Kannada districts. If the Mulgeni is not cancelled, a 'Vidhana Soudha Chalo' programme will be undertaken under the leadership of the Forum and a fast unto death protest will be staged in front of the Vidhan Soudha in Bangalore, he warned.
"We have come to know that the land lords, who own Mulgeni properties, have earned the favour of the government by donating generously to the party funds during the Lok Sabha election. The tenants of Mulgeni lands may not have funds, but they have the numbers. If the government fails to show concern for the people, it will have to learn the lesson in a bitter way," he explained.
The Forum came into being a year back, during which period, it conducted several protests and rallies. As a result, the legal advisor of the Forum got an opportunity to hold consultations with ministers Dr V S Acharya, Karunakar Reddy and former state Third Finance Commission president A G Kodgi, in-charge ministers of coastal districts, MLAs, deputy commissioners etc. During the consultations, our hopes of the said demands being met had been kindled. But of late, the land lords have brought pressure on the government to bring Mulgeni tenants under the provisions of Rent Act. We have no other go but to fight against the injustice," explained Forum president Maxim D'Silva.
D'Silva also informed, that a peoples' awareness programme on the problems of the Mulgeni tenants is being held at 10.30 pm on Sunday June 7 at the Town Hall here, under the aegis of the Forum. The programme, in which aggrieved tenants will participate, will be attended by minister Dr V S Acharya, A G Kodgi, MLA Yogish Bhat and other coastal MLAs, he added.
Forum vice president Joseph Saldanha, general secretary Jagadish Rao and treasurer Vishwanath Bolar were present at the press conference.