Mangaluru: Sinking political and religious differences, more than 2,000 people staged a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office to force the state government to drop the Yettinahole (Netravati) diversion project here on Monday.
The protest was led by religious heads and leaders of BJP, Congress, SDPI, Bajrang Dal and other outfits. Today’s protest would be followed by a complete shut-down across the district on Thursday.
A reluctant deputy commissioner, A.B. Ibrahim, stepped out to receive a memorandum from the leaders. Former Congress MLA Vijay Kumar Shetty demanded the state government to immediately stop the project.
“Except some elected representatives all elected representatives have forgotten the people. Minister Ramanath Rai should be fearless and oppose the project,” he said adding that all elected representatives must resign as a mark of protest. Mr Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, said power was not important for him. “If necessary, I am ready to quit and continue the fight,” he declared.
