Mangaluru: The All-College Students’ Association has called for a district-wide college bandh on September 19, in protest against the controversial Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project.
Addressing a press meet here on Thursday September 10, state legal advisor of the association Dinakar Shetty said, “The All-College Students’ Association will observe a bandh on September 19 to demand the scrapping of Yettinahole project and also urge the elected representatives to respond to the demands of the district.”
He said that 95 colleges from Dakshina Kannada will observe the bandh and join the protest. At 10 am on September 19, a rally will be taken from Ambedkar circle to DC’s office where the protest meet will be held.
Criticizing former chief ministers Dr Veerappa Moily and D V Sadananda Gowda, he said people of the district will ‘never forgive them’.
Slamming MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, he said in a sarcastic note, “Nalin Kumar Kateel said he has written a letter to union minister for water resources Uma Bharti requesting her to drop the project. By the time the letter reaches her and she reads, the project would be complete.”
“A common man has to follow all rules and regulations, but this project worth 13,000 crore has been started illegally,” he added.
“All people irrespective of religion, caste and community should support this protest,” he urged.
He also the said the students’ association will support the national highway bandh on September 15 called by Netravati Nadi Ulisi Horata Samiti and will take part in the protest. “We will also support Netravati Samrakshana Samiti in the 10 questions it has posed to MLAs and ministers of this region,” Dinakar Shetty added.
Asked if the association had taken permission from the police to hold the bandh, he said, “We have not take permission yet. The association will take responsibility if anything goes wrong.”
He also said that the students has planned a ‘show of strength’ on September 26.
“If political parties cannot drop this project, they should resign,” he said.
Rohini, president of All-College Students’ Association, Prabith Kumar, executive president, Samarth Rai, president of All-College Students’ Association Mangaluru taluk and others were present.
