Government puppet of contractors, alleges JD(S) MLC Farooq

Mangaluru: JD(S) MLC BM Farooq said that the government and people’s representatives have no control over contractors.
He was addressing protesters on the ninth day of the indefinite day-and-night dharna being held at Surathkal, against the national highway tollgate.
‘Use toll collected at Surathkal for public welfare’
“The government and people’s representatives from the region have already announced that the tollgate will be closed. What stops them from closing the tollgate here? Don’t they have control over contractors? Are contractors, who make allegations of 40% commission against the government, taking decisions? If there is political willpower among people’s representatives, the toll collection can be stopped in five minutes,” said Farooq, who is a member of the Committee on Government Assurances. He demanded that the government utilise several crores of rupees collected from vehicles at Surathkal tollgate for public welfare. “We will raise the issue in the legislative council in the next session,” he said.
J Balakrishna Shetty, member, CPM district secretariat, said that people will remove the BJP from Dakshina Kannada, if the government does not close the tollgate.
People of DK will teach BJP lesson in assembly election, says CPM member
“People of Dakshina Kannada will teach the BJP a lesson in the next assembly election. The BJP has failed to ensure implementation of a government decision, even after a month. How such a political party will be capable of implementing welfare schemes for people?” J Balakrishna Shetty asked.
Convener of the Action Committee Against Surathkal Toll Gate Muneer Katipalla said chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, who will be in Udupi to participate in Jana Sankalpa Yatre programmes on Monday, has avoided travelling via Surathkal.
“In the 30 minute drive from Mangaluru airport, the chief minister can reach the programme venue in Udupi. However, the chief minister has chosen to take a helicopter to travel from Bengaluru to Udupi. He has decided to take a helicopter, only to avoid travelling via Surathkal, where the day-and-night dharna is being continued,” Katipalla said.
Narendra Nayak, president of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA), and state Congress spokesperson Lavanya Ballal addressed the protesters.