Mangaluru: MP Nalin Kumar Kateel on Monday October 16 reacted to the Surathkal tollgate blockade issue and said toll authorities have requested 20 days time
He said that the Government supports a peaceful protest. But if the law is taken into hands and protests are held, the Government will have to take its own action,” he said.
He also said that he doesn’t know what notice has been issued. He has spoken to the Commissioner about this.
He said that if he approaches protestors, naturally the politics will come in. Therefore, he has asked them to speak to the concerned authorities and request them to give him time. The toll authorities have asked for 20 days time to clear the toll. He said, “Let’s give it a chance. And then if they don’t take action, let’s decide what to do.”
“I have no right to say that we should not fight because this is a Democracy. We have no objection to a peaceful struggle. But if they take the law into their hands and fight, then they will be responsible for the disaster that will happen in the future. “I was determined to say that we will open the tollgate,” he said.
Meanwhile, Former Minister Ramanath Rai said that it is not right to suppress those protesting against the toll gate. He said it was not proper for the police to go to the house of MNPA Member Pratibha Kulai at midnight when she was not there and harass her family members. There is a need to take this fight to its logical end, he noted.
He added, “This is an act of suppressing the protesters and the agitators are not doing it for their own selfish ends. Stating that it is being done for the common man, Rai said that all the members of the organisation should condemn it.
He said the action taken by the Police Department was a oppressive act and takes away the rights of the protestors to dissent.
In the meantime, former MLC Ivan D’Souza from Congress has questioned as to how the toll can be collected while the tollgate itself is illegal. Moreover, Centre itself has agreed that the tollgate is illegal. And also whenever the public takes up a struggle it is the due to the concerned MLAs and MPs to give appropriate answers to them, he added.
Also, in a mark of dissent against issuing notice to the tollgate protestors, the like-minded organisations held a protest in front of Mini Vidhana Soudha here in the City.
