MSEZ issue: Hunger strike enters third day

[email protected] (CD Network)
March 3, 2011

ZP1

Mangalore, March 3: Dakshina Kannada district unit of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha on Thursday expressed its support to the cause of the job seekers in the project displaced families of the Mangalore Special Economic Zone, whose indefinite hunger strike has entered the third day.

Kishore Kumar, the district unit chief of the BJYM along with his few associates joined hundreds of protesters, who have camped in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner here since Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion he said that BJYM is ready to extend its full support to the struggle of the displaced people. “We have been opposing the anti-people activities of MSEZ right from the beginning and now we have decided to intensify our fight against it” he said.

On Wednesday the district unit of Kannada Rakshana Vedike had joined the protesters, who are exerting pressure on the government and the company to fulfill the promise of providing suitable jobs to the trained youth belonging to project displaced families.

Around two hundred youth, belonging to MSEZ affected families, who have already completed training and those who are being trained at the Karnataka Polytechnic (KPT) are taking part in the protest.

Currently, 186 candidates have completed the training imparted by the company, while 188 other candidates are still undergoing job training. Most of them had stopped their education half way through following the company's assurance that they would get high salary jobs if they passed out of training classes.

Speaking on the occasion, R N Shetty Kalavaru, who is representing the affected people, said that they will welcome any organisation or person willing to join the protest.

One of the protesters said that they will continue their protest until a favourable decision is taken by the district administration with regard to their demands. “We will not go back till the government makes arrangements to provide jobs to all those members affected families, who have completed the training and those who are undergoing training at the Karnataka Polytechnic, either in MRPL or in ONGC,” he said.

The protesters accused the MSEZ officials of giving empty promises of providing jobs in MRPL or ONGC during the land acquisition.

Fast unto death

The protesters, who are holding the daylong hunger strike, have warned the authorities concerned that they will launch a fast unto death strike if their demands are not met within three days of the given deadline, i.e., Thursday evening.

“We are now holding daylong hunger strike to bring the issue to the notice of Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav. We will intensify our protest and fast unto death, if the district administration does not take initiatives to solve our problems within Thursday evening,” said Narayana, another representative of the protesters.


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News Network
November 10,2024

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Mangaluru: A tragic accident took place on Saturday at Chembugudde near Thokkottu, claiming the life of a 47-year-old woman after a tanker lorry ran over her. The victim, identified as Rahmat H Rashid, was riding pillion with her husband, Abdul Rashid G, on their scooter. 

The couple was traveling from Yenepoya Hospital to Bajpe when the scooter skidded on the poorly maintained road. Rahmat fell onto the road and was fatally struck by a tanker lorry that was coming from behind. Despite being rushed to the hospital, doctors declared her dead upon arrival.

The incident prompted a swift response from the DYFI Ullal Taluk Committee, which staged a protest on Saturday night, condemning the unsafe condition of the road. Nithin Kuthar, president of the committee, criticized MLA and Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader for failing to ensure safe infrastructure, despite touting the road as toll-free. 

Kuthar demanded immediate repairs, warning that the committee would march to the MLA’s office with black flags if the road is not fixed within a week.

Former DYFI State President Sunil Kumar Bajal also voiced frustration over the deteriorating condition of Thokkottu market, highlighting the struggles people face while crossing roads riddled with dangerous potholes. In response to public outcry, temporary repairs were made to the road at Chembugudde on Sunday, though locals remain wary and demand a more permanent solution. 

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News Network
November 11,2024

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Udupi, Nov 11: The Karkala town police in Udupi have arrested Krishna Naik, the sculptor responsible for installing a 33-foot Parashurama statue at Umikkal Hill in Bailur, Karkala taluk. 

Naik, the owner of Krish Art World and a resident of Bengaluru's Visvesvaraya Layout, was apprehended in Mahe, part of the Union Territory of Puducherry, for allegedly substituting a look-alike statue in place of a genuine bronze figure at the Parashurama Theme Park in Karkala.

Udupi Superintendent of Police Dr. Arun K confirmed the arrest, stating that Naik faces charges under Sections 420 (cheating) and 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code. 

This legal action followed a complaint lodged in June by Krishna Shetty, a resident of Nallur village, Karkala. Shetty claimed that Naik had received a payment of ₹1,25,50,000 from Udupi Nirmithi Kendra for the installation of a bronze Parashurama statue. However, Naik allegedly deceived the government by installing a replica instead.

The statue was unveiled on January 27, 2023, by then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has since ordered a CID investigation to probe deeper into the alleged fraud surrounding the statue's installation at the theme park.

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