Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 12: District Congress president, Gopal Poojary, has accused the agitators of being politically motivated in organizing ‘Rail Roko’ protest by stopping trains moving through the railway station here for three hours from 9 am to 12 pm on February 15, as having been politically motivated. The agitation is planned against the apathy of the railway ministry towards the demand for extending at least ten of the 17 compartments of Bangalore-Mangalore-Kannur train to Karwar. The train, which was plying between Mangalore and Bangalore earlier, was extended to Kannur against the popular demand to extend it to Karwar, because of lobbying by Kerala politicians, the agitators feel.

Poojary said that former union minister, Oscar Fernandes, has already discussed the issue of extending the said train to Karwar, thrice with the minister of state for railways, K H Muniyappa, and that the latter has given in-principle nod for the same. “Muniyappa has promised to attend a function being held to lay foundation stone for the upgradation project of Byndoor railway station after the conclusion of the budget session of the parliament, and to announce about the extension of the said train to Karwar on that occasion. The BJP, which got this information about this development, has planned this agitation to get political mileage,” Gopal Poojary alleged.