Apprehensive over the deputy commissioner’s notice to vacate, scores of residents of K R Mill Colony on Wednesday took out a mammoth rally in the city.
The rallyists irrespective of age and gender marched from the Thataiah statue opposite KSRTC bus stand and converged at the office of deputy commissioner.
It was not just a march, but the show of strength venting ire against the district administration for issuing notice, instead of portending in the interest of hapless residents and help them come out of the trouble.
Some among the agitators on their way to the office of deputy commissioner squatted in the middle of the road that connects JLB road and D Devaraja Urs road sending police personnel into a tizzy.
They also raised slogans against the government demanding the authorities concerned to not to leave them in lurch. Police who intervened, succeeded in convincing the rallyists to continue with the march instead of dharna.
Urulu seve
However, the police couldn’t keep their joy of convincing them for long, as some of the protesters after moving a distance further, stretched selves on the road in front of Government Maharani’s Women’s College and performed urulu seve much to their chagrin.
They were vociferous in saying that they have been accommodated in the colony for long owing to the labour they put in at the mills earlier. The government should intervene and solve the imbroglio.
According to them, Indian Overseas Bank of Chennai is making attempts to evacuate the residents to recover the dues towards loan secured by Jain, an industrialist.
The government in an agreement had handed over the management of the mill to Jain 15 years ago. Jain then had promised to give jobs to the locals. Instead, he sold the already installed machines at the mill, and also obtained a loan to the tune of Rs 46 crore pledging the colony as security.
Now, the residents of the colony are bearing the brunt with the industrialist not repaying the loan amount.
Ironically, instead of understanding the knitty-gritty of the issue, deputy commissioner P S Vastrad has issued notices to vacate the land.
Following this nearly 5,000 people from 700 odd families are in the fear of eviction. All they want is recalling the notice issued by deputy commissioner.
Secretary of K R Mill Colony Workers Association Shankarmurthy, assistant secretary Panduranga, members Nagendra Prasad, Muththuraj, Lokesh, T Krishna, Janata Dal (Secular) leader SBM Manju, and Kalastavadi villagers extended support and participated in the rally.
Support pours in
Dalita Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) has extended support for the cause of colony residents.
In a press release, district convener of the samiti Bettaiah Kote has alleged that the said industrialist deliberatedly pledged the land only to raise money, but not to pay the same to the bank.
Congress MLA M Satyanarayana, JD(S) MLA S R Mahesh, taluk panchayat member Manjula Manjunath also supported the cause of residents and took part in the rally.