MANGALORE : In a sudden move, DYFI activists picketed the Mangalore City Corporation office on Tuesday alleging that the Corporation Commissioner was inaccessible to the public and that he was pursuing an anti-Dalit policy. A heated debate also ensued between the agitators and the Barke police on the occasion.It may be recalled here that the infamous lathi charge had taken place outside the MCC office last May during a protest by the left organisations including DYFI with regard to the water rate imbroglio.
This time, when the DYFI activists arrived at the MCC office to submit a memoradum to the commissioner on the problems of Dalits, the commissioner was not in his office. When DYFI leader Sunil Kumar Bajal enquired with the officials present, he was informed that the Commissioner was in Suratkal sub-office of the MCC. However, the commissioner was not available in the office when contacted. Finally the DYFI workers contacted the commissioner by getting his mobile number but were not happy with the Commissioner’s reaction.
“The funds reserved for SC, ST in MCC were not being effectively utilised. The repeated appeal made to the authorities have been of no use as the officials are apathetic,” Sunil Kumar Bajal said adding ” Our efforts to meet the Commissioner today also proved futile.”
However, when Barke SI Rekha reprimanded the activists saying they cannot picket the MCC office as they please and that they have to seek prior permission for the same, Sunil Kumar Bajal retaliated asking how many arrests had been made when the Sangh Parivar staged a rasta roko in connection with Amarnath Yatra even when ban orders were in place.
Congress Corporator Appi, speaking to Karavali Ale accused MCC of pursuing anti-Dalit policies and added the funds were not being utilised for the welfare of Dalits.
On the other hand, Hanumanth Kamath, President of Nagarika Hitarakshana Vedike, reacting to the incident said the officials who are not present in their chairs whenever public want to meet them, will be alerted only when such agitations are held.
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