Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 12: The district Congress staged a protest against the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the BJP at Nanthoor Circle on Friday, September 12, following multiple fatalities caused by pothole-related accidents on the National Highway.

As part of the demonstration, Congress leaders carried a dummy dead body symbolizing the victims of the accidents and marched to the NHAI office at Pumpwell, where they attempted to gherao the office. Police later detained the protestors.

MLC Ivan D’Souza criticized the BJP-led government, stating, “Due to the negligence of the NHAI and the BJP, we have lost 120 lives in accidents. The Narendra Modi-led BJP government has failed miserably in providing safe and proper roads to the public.”

He further said that while four cases have been booked against the NHAI, it is not sufficient. “There should be 120 cases—one for each life lost—against the NHAI, the MLA, and the MP,” he asserted.

Referring to a recent fatality, he remarked, “The patchwork on the roads began only after Madhavi’s death. Had it been done earlier, some lives could have been saved.” He also demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore for each of the deceased victims.

District Congress president Harish Kumar, along with party leaders J R Lobo, Mithun Rai, Padmaraj, Shashidhar Hegde, Bhaskar Moily, NSUI district president Suhan Alva, and others, were present at the protest.