This is with reference to the series of actions announced by Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Udupi Yatri Sangha, Padil Railway Association, for the early introduction of Mangalore-Bangalore passenger train service, transfer of Mangalore Station to Mysore division, and to protest against the extension of Matsyagandha Express train upto Tiruvananthapuram.

ailway Ministry has been playing with the patience of South Kanara people. It has been delaying the introduction of Mangalore-Bangalore train on flimsy grounds. Now comes the extension of Matsyagandha train thereby reducing the reservation quota for Mangaloreans.

Peaceful actions like demonstration before the Railway Station and going on hunger strike would not yield desired result. Now is the time for going into direct action. When Kerala protested against the inauguration of Salem division, all political parties joined together and blocked all trains moving towards Kerala from Tamil Nadu and North India, at Coimbatore and Podanur Junctions for two days.

Ultimately Kerala had to shut their mouth and Salem division was inaugurated. We should also block all trains moving towards Kerala near Talapady bridge, block goods train to Bangalore at Kankanady Junction till our demands are met. This must be people’s movement and all political parties should support it. Mangalore-Bangalore train should be run upto Bangalore City. As per the original announcement, it has to run only upto Yeshwanthpur.

Sukumar Talpady,
Kottara, Mangalore.

Victory of voters

Having enjoyed and abused power for over two decades, people were frustrated and disgusted with the corruption and infighting of these corporators making a mockery of the citizens who voted for them.

Call it anti-incumbency, anti-establishment or by any other phrase, both the corporators and the Congress leaders who were supposed to be guiding them had lost all credibility and peoples faith during the last 20 years of their misrule, and were destined to doom in this Corporation elections.

The writing on the wall was clear. Their usual mantra of secularism, display of Gandhigiri and, loyalty to Sonia-Rahul leadership and pampering the minorities never fooled anyone including both the illiterate and minority communities. Giving due credit to the good work by the BJP as a responsible opposition, and giving due representation to the minority communities, the verdict as far as Congress was clear and final: Get out of power and get lost! If you ask this question as to why they lost, to any Congress leader, they will admit they defeated themselves.

Their proximity to power, ego, arrogance and complacency, corruption and total abuse of power and dissidence and inter-rivalry caused their downfall. They richly deserved it! It will be prudent on the part of BJP to be humble and gracious in their victory, and learn the lessons of this election for their own future guidance, to give good governance and properly use of the resources to win the hearts of every citizen, irrespective of caste and religion. Everyone must thank the Congress for giving this opportunity to their opposition BJP to show the difference. May I say, “Congress lost so that BJP wins?”. It is the victory of the voter who has shown the power of his ballot to these poltiticians!

B N R Rao,
Vivek Nagar, Kulur. 

Closing of busy post offices

Location of the merged post offices came as a shock for the residents early this year. The common middle class public of Jeppu, Morgan’s Gate and Mahakalipadapu were disturbed by the plans. City media, also the concerned news papers took up the issue with the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices and at the Dak Adalat. Public assurances were given that the matter would be given reconsideration in public interest.

Now the orders of immenent closure of the Jeppu and Mahakalipadapu Post offices is causing despair to the public of this vast area. No notices have been given through the media regarding this. Why secrecy regarding a public amenity?

Strangely, a new post office is to be opened in Nandigudda, in the very place it was opposed earlier, as it was inaccesable to the elders and disabled. Why the interest not to get a better place as assured? Why have the people in power forgotten the earlier assurances that a suitable location will be selected and that the convenience of the public will be considered? Why are our leaders and officials only aiming to fool the ordinary citizen and pamper only certain sections of people?

I J S Shet,
Bolar.

(Readers may send their letters to The Editor, Deccan Herald, Yenepoya Chambers, 2nd floor, Balmatta, Mangalore or e-mail to dhmangalore@deccanherald.co.in. )