Mysuru: JD(S) state president H.D. Kumarswamy on Saturday criticised Home Minister Dr G. Parameswar, DG&IGP Om Prakash and district in-charge minister of Dharwad, Mr Vinay Kulkarni, for the alleged assault on pregnant women and agitating farmers during a protest related to Mahadayi.
He said, “When farmers are protesting for a cause, the police are indulging in goondaism. The police could not arrest Marigowda (a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who is absconding after allegedly threatening Mysuru Deputy Commissioner Shikha), but are assaulting women, including pregnant women. I personally telephoned DG&IGP Om Prakash on Friday, urging him to direct the police not to be rude towards protesting activists. The police should remember that they work for the people.”
NGO opposes railway line through Bandipur to connect two states
In order to circumvent the ban on movement of vehicles during night from Kerala to Karnataka and Mysuru to Ooty, via Bandipur Tiger Reserve, the Kerala Government has proposed a railway line two states through the reserve and the railways ministry has approved a survey, but activists of Vanya, an NGO, are opposing the project. They are insisting on use of alternative routes.
Kiran Ramaswamy of Vanya, NGO, said: “The proposed alignment of railway line will not just cause destruction of forest, but it will also disturb the wild life. It has been proposed to have a railway line connecting the two states via Nanjangud, Heggadalli, Chikbargi, Maavnalla and Wyanad, which will run 10 km via Bandipur. ”
