Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 20: On the lines of Freedom Park, Bengaluru, where protests are permitted to be held, the Dakshina Kannada district administration has planned to earmark specific spot in the city exclusively to hold protests, agitations, dharna and other forms of dissent.

The administration feels that this will ensure that the people in general do not come across problems on account of the  protests. For this purpose, the administration will soon hold meeting with the city police department and city corporation. Sources say that the administration is in favour of a spot near Kadri Park for the protests. It has been planned to install the statue of Gandhiji and create an ambience for the agitators. At the same time, other areas are also being considered for the purpose.

In the past, all kinds of protests were held in front of the office of Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner. After the corona lockdown, the protests were shifted to opposite mini Vidhana Soudha here. As there is no space of parking and has heavy vehicular traffic, the district administration feels that this spot is not ideal for protests. The police department is also considering to allow protests near the Gandhiji statue in front of the town hall temporarily.

Mangaluru tahsildar Gurprasad, said that vehicular traffic was less near the Mini Vidhana Soudha for some time as smart city works were under way. He said it is not the authorised spot for holding protests. He said that the district administration will soon decide on an alternate site for protests.

So far, because of frequent protests, people in general and employees of various offices were facing difficulties. Many a times the entire road had to be closed. As these things created problems for the people, it was suggested to shift the spot of protest. It may not be possible to accommodate protests at Padil where new DC office is coming up because of marrow roads. Sportspersons are not in favour of allowing protests at Nehru Maidan.

In the past, several spots were thought of, but none were finalised for the purpose. When A B Ibrahim was the deputy commissioner, he had planned to finalise one of the three spots but the work did not move after he left.