Pics: Thejaswi U Poojary
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (TP)
Udupi, May 30: The Udupi District Congress Committee staged a massive protest against what it termed the anti-people policies of the central government, drawing a large number of party workers and leaders from across the district on May 30.
The protest march commenced from the District Congress Office in Udupi and proceeded through the city before culminating at Jodukatte. Protesters raised slogans against the central government, alleging failures in governance and demanding accountability on several issues affecting the public.
A major focus of the protest was the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and the alleged NEET examination scam. Congress leaders accused the Centre of undermining democratic institutions and jeopardising the future of students through alleged mismanagement and a lack of transparency.
As the protesters attempted to intensify their demonstration at Jodukatte, the police intervened and detained several Congress workers and leaders. The detained protesters were later taken into custody as a preventive measure to maintain law and order.
The protest included a demonstration by the members of the District Congress Campaign Committee who participated in the rally on bicycles, drawing public attention over the hike in fuel price.
Addressing the protest gathering at Jodukatte, senior Congress leaders and party workers raised slogans against the Central Government and expressed strong resentment over its policies. They alleged that common citizens were facing severe hardships due to the Centre's decisions.
Speaking on the occasion, former Union Minister Jayaprakash Hegde criticized the handling of the NEET examination issue. He said it was unfair to burden students with re-examinations following question paper leaks. He urged the government to consider conducting examinations at the state level from the coming year to ensure greater opportunities for students from individual states.
Jayaprakash Hegde also blamed the Central Government for the increase in crude oil prices and appealed to it not to shift the burden onto ordinary citizens. He advised the government to learn from the economic policies implemented by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and take measures to ease the difficulties faced by the public.
M A Gaffoor, president Coastal Development Authority, speaking about the SIR process, alleged that the Central Government was attempting to undermine voting rights. He claimed that nearly 3.5 million voter records had reportedly gone missing in Bihar and accused authorities of misusing democratic institutions. He stressed the need to create awareness among voters regarding electoral roll revisions and safeguard democratic rights.
The protesters warned that the Congress party would continue its agitation against the Central Government until the concerns raised by the party and the public were addressed.
Prominent Congress leaders and workers including former MLA Gopal Poojary, Udupi district Congress president Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, congress leaders Muniyalu Uday Kumar Shetty, Alevoor Harish Kini, Kishan Hegde Kollebail, Ramesh Kanchan, Prasadraj Kanchan, Dinesh Putran, Hariprasad Rai, Keerthi Shetty, Mahabala Kunder, Krishna Shetty, Manjunath Poojary, Dinesh Heroor, Santhosh Kumar, Gopinath Bhat, Saurabh Ballal and several others participated in the protest.