Terming the recent statement of MP D V Sadananda Gowda regarding the commencement of train service between Mangalore and Bangalore a “complete lie”, Mangalore Railway Development Action Committee has stated that the train service will begin only in October.

“The statement of Mr Gowda that the service will commence in September is an imaginary one and a complete lie. He is trying ‘to save his face’ by adding lies one after another,” criticised the Committee Convener P V Mohan in a press meet here on Saturday.

He said the Union Minister Oscar Fernandes has informed them that Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and Railway officials have agreed to start train service ‘most probably’ on October 2, the day of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhiji.

They have also given two alternative dates, i.e., October 12 and 21 (the first day of Navarathri and Vijayadashami, respectively). However the day of Gandhi Jayanthi will be preferred, he said.

A delegation of the Action Committee met Oscar Fernandes and Railway Parliamentary Committee Chairman Basudev Acharya recently, when Mr Fernandes revealed the details of his discussion with the Railway Minister and officials. Mr Acharya has also supported the words of Mr Fernandes, Mr Mohan informed.

An important meeting of top officials of Railway department will be held in Bangalore in the first week of September, in which Mr Lalu Prasad is expected to participate. Mr Acharya has said that any problem arose out of the report of the Railway Safety Commissioner will be sorted out during the meeting, he said.

Mr Mohan said there is no contribution of Mr Sadanand Gowda for the commencement of train service between Mangalore and Bangalore. All works have been done by Congress leaders Mr Fernandes, Veerappa Moily and Janardhan Poojary behind the screens. It is Mr Gowda who has politicised the train issue, he said.

NSUI District President Tejaswi Raj and KPCC Secretary Mohammed Badruddin were present in the press meet.

FAST UNTO DEATH

Mr P V Mohan said he and his team would start ‘fast unto death’ in front of Mangalore Railway Station on October 22, the very next day of the last tentative date, if the train service would not be started.