Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 23: "The tollgate near National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) was built and toll charges are being collected illegally since the last some years here as part of a plan to rob people of their money to make some officials rich," stated former MLA, Vijayakumar Shetty.

He was speaking after taking part in the indefinite strike being held by Anti Tollgate Committee at Suratkal opposing renewal of licence for the tollgate and demanding for its immediate closure, on Monday, October 22.

Shetty added that Ircon is a company functioning under the government. He said that building a tollgate between B C Road and Suratkal within the limits of the city corporation is illegal. He felt that protests like these are necessary to destroy decisions taken by irresponsible officials.

Convener of the committee, Muneer Katipalla, speaking on the occasion, noted that even after the state government decided to close this tollgate, it has continued to function. "The MP took part in Padayathra on this issue and passed instructions but it did not have the desired effect. Instead of closing the gate, he has given his silent nod for the renewal of the permission for the tollgate. Local MLA too is not respecting the popular sentiment. The protest will continue through day and night till the gate is cancelled," he announced.

Shekhar Hejamady noted that several meetings and decisions taken in the presence of deputy commissioners of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts have failed to stop the toll charges here. He accused the MP of failing to show his willpower to get the needful done. He wanted to know whether the MPs and MLAs have no value, and whether decisions taken in their meetings need not be implemented.

Leaders like JD(S) district president, Muhammed Kunhi, Suratkal block Congress president, K Sadashiva Shetty, Revathi Puthran, M G Hegde, T N Ramesh and several others were present.