Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, May 4: Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Udupi Pejawar Mutt assured that he would hold a detailed talk with the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district about the forcible eviction of Gregary Patrao’s family from their ancestral land in Kalavar village. He assured that depending upon the outcome of this dialogue, future course of action would be decided.
The Swamiji was speaking to reporters on Monday May 3 after visiting the land in Kalavar, where the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board authorities had recently demolished the standing structures for acquiring this land for the expansion of refinery of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd.
“The steps taken by the officials concerned are not justified in the eyes of law and they violated humanitarian considerations. They have followed the tactics of coercing the farmers to leave their lands. Gregory Patrao, who continues to fight for saving his land even after losing his home, is a model fighter,” he appreciated. At the same time, he clarified that the hunger strike he had declared earlier cannot be linked to this acquisition, as the officials have assured that they would not go ahead with the acquisition of additional 2,000 acres of land as planned earlier.
Environmental activist, Vidya Dinkar, demanded for leaving this land from the acquisition plan, as MRPL will not be building any structures on this land in near future. Sri Esha Vittaladasa Swamiji of Kemar wanted steps to be taken in respect of complaint of missing gold ornaments during the demolition process. Local MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, said that he is prepared to hold detailed inquiry into the pros and cons of land acquisition process.
Bala gram panchaya president, Lokesh Shetty, Hindu Jagaran Vedike leader, Satyajit Suratkal, city corporator, Mariamma Thomas, secretary of Agricultural Land Protection Committee, William, Eshwar Kateel etc., were present.