Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jan 15: As many as 28 different organizations, under the leadership of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada District Muslim Central Committee, have planned to hold a mega protest meeting on Wednesday January 15 at Adyar. About one lac people are expected to take part in the event.
In the meantime, security has been beefed up and police have been keeping a close watch on developments all over the coast. The city has bitter memory of two youngsters losing their lives after the protest organized on December 19 turned violent, forcing the police to open fire. Against these deaths, and seeking action against those responsible for the act, various protests were held in different parts of the state. Therefore, security has been tighter this time to ensure that no
untoward incidents happen. Over 3,000 police personnel have been deployed on security duty.
Retired IAS officers Harsh Mandar and Kannan Gopinathan, apart from retired Supreme Court judge Justice Gopala Gowda, human rights activist Shivasundar, and advocate Sudheer Kumar Maroli, will be delivering the main addresses.
Going by the December 19 experience, the police have been refusing permission to hold any kind of protest at Nehru Maidan. The Muslim Central Committee has shifted the venue of the protest to Shaha Garden ground at Adyar Kannur, although initially it was insistent on holding it at Nehru Maidan. The protest will go on from 2.30 pm to 6 pm. Congress and several like-minded organizations have extended support to this programme.
In view of this programme, traffic on national highway 75 between Mangaluru and Bengaluru has been changed. LPG tankers have been barred from using this road from 9 am to 9 pm today.
Muslim Central Committee has said that the theme of the protest is national flag in one hand, constitution in the other, non-violence in mind, and 'Jana Gana Mana' on lips. It said that the protest will be very peaceful, and that this protest is not against anyone, but for the protection of constitutional rights. It said that the meet is not restricted to Muslims, and people from all faiths will participate.