Mangaluru: A section of Congress leaders led by MLC Ivan D’Souza took out a bullock cart rally, opposing the fuel price hike, as part of the nation-wide bundh call given by the Congress and a few other organisation, on Monday, September 10.
The protest rally was taken out from Hampankatte to the DC’s office and the protesters, who shouted out anti-Modi slogans also prepared tea on the road using firewood.
Addressing the protestors, D’ Souza said that the Narendra Modi-led BJP government has failed to reduce petrol or diesel prices in the country, despite the crude oil prices dropping.
The MLC also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who assured the citizens that he is a ‘Chowkidar’ of this country has only favoured the corporate giants and has paid very little attention toward well-being of the poor and middle class.
“It is time we united against this Narendra Modi led government at the centre which is leaving the entire country in jeopardy,” he said adding that the contribution of the BJP MPs to the state is a big zero.
JD(S) district president Moideen Kunhi, JD(S) Youth President Akshith Suvarana and others were present.
Verbal battle between Cong-BJP
Heated argument took place between the Congress protesters and Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath, when the Congress members forced the general public to support the bundh on Monday morning.
It is said that the MLA was passing through Ambedkar Circle (Jyoti Circle) in his vehicle, when some locals stopped him and complaint that the Congress leaders were forcing them to comply with the bundh. When the MLA tried to speak to the protestors, a heated argument broke out. However, Commissioner of Police T R Suresh intervened and asked MLA Vedavyas Kamath to leave the place. Though the MLA did not pay heed to the words of Police Commissioner initially, police managed to convince him and succeeded in sending him away.
Later, Vedavyas Kamath spoke to the reporters and condemned the move of protesters, claiming that the fuel price was more during the UPA government. ” Activists who are engaged in protesting now had remained silent when the UPA government was in power. The Congress leaders are misusing the government machinery to gain good response to the bandh call. It is nothing but a vote bank politics, eying at the next LokSabha election’, he said.
