Karnataka: ‘Can’t stop fight against tollgate through police’

MANGALURU: The Action Committee Against Surathkal Toll Gate has warned that the protest against the tollgate cannot be stopped using police cases.
Committee convener Muneer Katipalla and legal advisor Dinesh Hegde Ulepady said though the protest held on October 18 was peaceful, police have registered two FIRs on the instructions of the BJP MP and MLAs.
“They cannot stop our fight using police force. The only way to end the protest is to vacate the tollgate on NH-66 at Surathkal. Let police withdraw the baseless cases immediately. We are ready to go to jail if police proceed with the case. A team of advocates have been preparing to fight it legally,” Katipalla told reporters here on Monday.
On Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel’s statement of October 18 seeking 20 days to vacate the toll gate, Katipalla said the action committee has no confidence in the MP’s statements as none of the MLAs have reacted.
“While the MP has sought 20 days to vacate the toll gate, the MLAs are tight-lipped. Meanwhile, district minister V Sunil Kumar has stated that the toll gate is likely to be vacated by the end of November. All these leads to suspicion about the closure of the toll gate. As per the MP’s promise, the toll should be vacated on November 7. Hence, we will commence the day and night indefinite dharna demanding vacation of the toll gate as decided earlier near the toll gate from October 28,” he said.
Advocate Dinesh Hegde Ulepady said the MP’s statement that he will approach the court if the toll gate is not vacated within 20 days is another delaying tactic. “The government has agreed that the toll gate is illegal. However, the same government has no courtesy to correct their mistakes by vacating the toll gate,” he said.
KPCC coordinator Prathibha Kulai said the city police have failed to act against the accused who wrote an objectionable comment to a video of her participation in the protest against the toll gate on Facebook. “I will continue my fight by filing a defamation suit against the accused Shyama Sudarshan Bhat Hosamoole and will also approach the Women’s Commission,” she added.