Justin D’Silva

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Nov 12: Udupi block Congress staged a protest on Thursday, November 12 urging for immediate repairs to the severely damaged Parkala–Manipal national highway. Kundapur block Congress president Vikas Hegde addressing the protesters said that beginning from council to the Centre is ruled by the BJP government and if there is any morality and ethics in the party they should set aside politics, pay compensation to victims who have lost their land and complete the work soon.

"The compensation was increased four times during the term of Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. Congress government rule of 50 years is responsible if the country proceeds towards progress now. BJP does not want to solve any problems. Raghupathi Bhat has not done any work that can benefit the public. The MLA only conducts groundbreaking events for work brought by some contractor. Shobha Karandlaje is sowing poisonous seeds between people of different religions and castes. There are BJP MPs in Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Mangaluru. They should work towards CRZ issue, implementation of Kasturirangan report and prevent atrocities that are occurring in the name of 'deemed forest'. Congress elected representatives have tried sincerely to solve those problems. However, Modi and his accomplices are plundering the country like thieves," he said.

Former MLA Pramod Madhwaraj said, "Congress urges that people who are losing land in 900 meters of the area here should be paid compensation of Rs 12 crore. 3A notification was over and 3B notification should have been done within a year. The notification was cancelled as the district administration and BJP failed to do it. They must get 3A notification done again. They alleged that I blocked Rs 3 crore that was meant for the compensation. But, in reality, I had only stated that Rs 3 crore compensation was insufficient. The compensation should be paid by the Centre and not by the district administration. I used to conduct meetings every month during my term to assess the situation. There is nobody who questions officials in Udupi now. The work is delayed due to the careless attitude. 3B and 3J notifications must be done and the work should be completed within the next six months. There are huge contributions done by me and the member of Rajya Sabha Oscar Fernandes to construct Malpe, Parkala and Molakalmuru road," he said.

The protesters shouted slogans against the MPs, MLAs and elected representatives during the protests. Congress district president Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, B Narasimha Murthy, municipal council member Ramesh Kanchan, Harish Kini, Sathish Amin Padukere, K Krishnamurthy Acharya, Janardhan Bhandarkar, Prakhyat Shetty, Yathish Karkera, Veronica Cornelio, Geetha Vagle, Dr Sunita Shetty, Jyothi Hebbar, Yuvaraj, Keerthi Shetty, Sukesh Kunder, Ganesh Nergi, Diwakar Kunder, Dinesh Putran, Kushala Shetty Indrali, R L Dais, Saurabh Ballal, Sharan and Ganesh Raj Saralebettu were present.