Samithi begins indefinite strike, seeks closure of Suratkal tollgate
Mangaluru: The Toll Gate Virodhi Horata Samiti, Surathkal, has begun an indefinite strike demanding the closure of the Surathkal toll plaza.
The MPs had promised at the National Highway Authority of India's (NHAI) meeting that the contract for the toll collection at the Surathkal toll gate will not be renewed after its date gets over on October 30. But now the NHAI authorities have once again initiated the process to renew the contract. With this, the highway authorities have decided to continue the illegal tollgate. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel is directly responsible for this, the protesters alleged.
Convener of Toll Gate Virodhi Horata Samiti Muneer Katipalla, former MLA Vijayakumar Shetty, MCC member Dayanand Shetty, Revati Putran, Purushottam Chitrapura, Former Mayor Hilda Alva, Raghavendra Rao, Joekatte Panchayat President Presilla Montaro, BK Imtiyaz, Santosh Bajal, Padre Rajesh Shetty, Mousabba Pakshikere, Srinath Kulalu, Ayub Koluru, Dinesh Kumpala, TN Raghavendra, Rahim Pakshikere, Abubakar Bawa, Rashid Mukka, Naveen Konchadi, Nasir Krishnapura, Ashraf Safa, Salim Katipalla, Hussain Katipalla, Santosh Kumar Hegde Kinnigoli, Durgaprasad Hegde Kinnigoli, Srikanth Salian, Bharat Shetty Kulai, Gangadhar Hosabettu, Gangadhar Banjan, D'Souza, jankoluru, Giridhar Sanil,Puneet Shetty, MG Hegde, Dalit leader Raghu Ekkar, Bhaskar Bajpe, Kamalaksha Bajal, JDS DK district President Mohammed Kunhi, Vasant Poojary, Muneer Mukkachcheri, Madhusudan Gowda, Congress leaders Farooq Ullal, Sadashiva Shetty, leaders of various organisations, and others participated in the protest.
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No confusion in BJP-JD(S) alliance: Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru (PTI): Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday dismissed speculation over confusion in the BJP-JD(S) alliance, asserting that there was clarity within them and that discussions on the chief minister post were premature.
Addressing reporters at the party's state office, JP Bhavan, after chairing a preparatory meeting for the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections, he said the immediate priority was to remove what he termed an "anti-people government" in the state and to strengthen the alliance to face upcoming polls.
"This is not the time to discuss who should become the chief minister. There is still time for that. If we speak about it now, it would be like stitching the cradle even before the baby is born," Kumaraswamy said, underlining that leadership questions would be taken up at an appropriate time.
The JD(S) second-in-command said there is still a lot of work to be done and it was not appropriate to speak about such matters now.
"On the issue of alliance, both I and our party are open-minded. When the time comes, we will discuss it on the party platform and take a decision. There is no confusion regarding the alliance, and there will be no confusion in the future. This is my stand," Kumaraswamy said.
"There is a bad government in the state. My objective is to remove it and bring in a pro-people government. Removing this corrupt and bad government is my agenda. The JD(S) and BJP parties will work together to accomplish this task," he added.
Reiterating his stand, Kumaraswamy said, "My objective is to remove the anti-people government in the state. I have been saying this from the beginning."
On reports of internal differences over the alliance and the CM's position, the union minister said he would not respond to every statement made by individuals.
"Some people are speaking about the alliance and the chief minister's position. I do not feel the need to respond to them. If I start answering each of them, people may think I lack maturity. Therefore, I will not speak about it. We will strengthen the alliance together, face the elections together, and bring a pro-people government," he said.
Kumaraswamy added that discussions within parties were natural and not final.
He said there were still two years left for the Assembly elections while there were four to five months left for the local body elections.
The union minister said the JD(S) is also preparing for the municipal elections in Bengaluru city just as other parties.
He clarified that there had been no discussions so far between the two parties specifically on local body or GBA elections.
Earlier, the JD(S) leader chaired a meeting with Members of the Legislative Council, former MLAs and other leaders of his party to review preparations for the GBA elections.
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