A Mangalore Railway Horata Samithi was constituted on Sunday to protest against injustice meted to the people of coastal district by the railway department.

A meeting convened to discuss the future course of action against the extension of Matsyagandha train service to Thiruvananthapuram held in Mangalore on Sunday, decided to constitute a committee. Advocate Dinesh Hegde Ulepady will be the convenor and Kannada Sahitya Parishath former president Harikrishna Punaroor will be the honourary convenor.

It was decided to bring together various organisations to fight against the injustice by the erailways. The protest should be organised by various organisations. Sathyagraha, rail roko, signature campaign and post card campaign will be organised, the meet decided.

Dakshina Kannada district Kannada Sahitya Parishath President Pradeep Kumar Kalkura said “lack of will power on the part of the coastal people was responsible for the injustice by the railway department and deplorable condition of the road. For ‘silly’ reasons, people stage protest but when the basic facilities are denied they keep mum.”

Save Konkan railway

Mr Hamid Kandak said “the term of Konkan railway has come to an end and a plot is being hatched to merge it under Phalgat division. Coastal district people have the majority of their share in Konkan railways. There is a need to protest to save Konkan railway as well.”

He said Matsyagandha train service can not be extended unless it is placed before the Railway Consulate Committee. The matter would have made known to the MPs much in advance. But still they have kept quite,” he alleged.

Jagadeesh Shenava, Railway Salaha Samithi Member Jayaram Rai, Nagarika Hitharakshana Samithi’s Hanumantha Kamath, KCCI’s V S Bhat among others were present.