Auto rickshaw driver in Udupi assaulted by member of another union after fight over fare hike
Udupi: An auto rickshaw driver sustained serious injuries as other drivers assaulted him following a fight during a meeting of an auto rickshaw drivers’ union regarding hike in fare in Udupi town.
The injured driver, Prasad, who was attacked at the parking slot near the Big Bazaar outlet, is being treated at the Ajjarakadu Government Hospital and is learned to be out of danger.
Members of the union, who have alleged that one Raghu and his associates, belonging to another auto rickshaw drivers’ union, had attacked Prasad, gathered outside the government hospital and demanded justice for the injured driver.
The protesters have said that the local police have been alerted regarding the incident.
They said that they are prevented from running their vehicles inside Udupi town, which has five auto rickshaw drivers’ unions. Although the union members function by themselves, the drivers are being oppressed they said, adding that earlier too there were cases of attack on the drivers. They pointed out that they were under attack in spite of being permitted by the Police Department and the City Municipality to run auto rickshaws.
Stressing on their demand for justice, the drivers expressed disappointment in the local legislators and other elected leaders, stating that the representatives had not helped them in spite of being informed of the drivers’ problems.
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Mamata demands PM's apology over 'Bankim da' remark in Lok Sabha
Cooch Behar (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he has insulted novelist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay by calling him "Bankim da".
Addressing a rally in Cooch Behar district, Banerjee said the PM was not even born when the country achieved Independence and yet chose to address one of Bengal's greatest cultural icons casually.
"You did not even show him the minimum respect he deserves. You should apologise for this, to the nation," she said.
The flashpoint was PM's reference to the author during a discussion in Lok Sabha on Monday to commemorate 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram, written by Chattopadhyay.
TMC MP Saugata Roy objected to the use of the suffix 'da' and urged the PM to say 'Bankim babu' instead.
Modi immediately accepted the sentiment, saying, "I will say Bankim 'babu'. Thank you, I respect your sentiments," and asked in a lighter vein whether he could still address Roy as 'dada'.
Targeting the BJP, Banerjee claimed that it will destroy Bengal's culture, language and heritage if it comes to power in the state.
She also claimed that the assembly elections in the state will be declared soon after publication of the final electoral rolls following the SIR exercise, so that no one can challenge it in court.
