Karwar: While protesting against the state and central governments placing several demands, President of Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha, Vatal Nagaraj was arrested for forcefully closing the national highway, here on Thursday, January 17.
Addressing the media, Vatal Nagaraj said, “Both the state and central governments have neglected the border districts in terms of development. We urge the government to implement special packages towards border districts.”
Criticising against the environmentalists, he said, “There are some fake environmentalists who in the name of nature are not allowing the important project of Hubbali-Ankola rail lines and the Centre and state are supporting them.”
“We demand that the governments work hand-in-hand and implement this project which will help in connecting the rail lines to north India, in turn benefitting the people of the districts concerned”, he added.
He also demanded allowing sand mining in the district.
Regarding the employment opportunities to the youth, Vatal said, “Employment opportunities must be given to youth in the Seabird project, rather than they going in search of a jobs to Goa. The recruitment process regarding the same must be initiated at the earliest.”
“Industries must be established in the Karwar-Ankola belt”, emphasised Vatal. Members of different political parties too participated. As the police were informed about the protest in advance, they took Vatal Nagaraj and other party workers into custody, as they went on to close the national highway. Later, all of them were released.
Raghu Naik from Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha, State President of Railway Protestors Committee Ramanand Nayak and members of other organisations were present.
