MANGALURU: Members of the Action Committee Against Surathkal Toll Gate on Friday commenced an indefinite day and night dharna demanding that National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) vacate the toll gate.
Action committee convener Muneer Katipalla said that because of continuous protests in the past seven years, the government had agreed that Surathkal tollgate was illegal.
“The NHAI and the government have already decided to vacate the toll plaza. In the past seven years, the toll gate has collected nearly Rs 400 crore. The authorities concerned and people’s representatives have been making contradictory statements seeking more time to vacate the tollgate. As per Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel’s assurance, the tollgate should be vacated by November 9. We will continue our protest till the toll gate is vacated,” Katipalla said, and demanded that the MP resign if he is not able to keep his word.
MLC K Harish Kumar, senior Congress leaders Vinay Kumar Sorake, B Ramanath Rai, BA Mohiuddin Bava, K Abhayachandra Jain, Prathibha Kulai, advocate Dinesh Ulepady, social activist M G Hegde, and others took part in the dharna.
Reiterating that the protest will not be stopped until their demand was fulfilled, Prathibha Kulai said the peaceful protest will be continued in the interest of the common man. Lashing out at MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, she said, “People no longer trust him.”
Former minister Ramanath Rai said BJP has been trying to suppress people’s voice through threats. City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar on Thursday had issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC within 200 meters of the toll plaza at Surathkal from 6am on October 28 to 6pm on November 3.
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