Udupi: Vishwa Bantara Yane Nadavara Jana Jagruthi Balaga demands immediate renaming of Light House Hill Road to Mulki Sundaram Shetty Road in Mangalauru City, failing it would stage protests, said Bhaskar Rai, Senior Citizens’ Forum President.
Speaking to media persons at Udupi Press Club on July 6, he informed that followers of Mulki Sundaram Shetty and other larger associations would stage aggressive protests after July 8, if MCC failed to rename the Light House Hill Road as per earlier notification. “The protests will be held until our demands are met,” he asserted.
“The cancellation of the renaming of the road as Mulki Sundaram Shetty Road which was scheduled on July 2 has severely hurt the sentiments of the Bunts communities in the undivided district and it is a great insult to the community at large. The timely interference of few people, specially Ivan D’Souza and J R Lobo for political privileges has led to the cancellation and their people are sowing seeds of poison among the various communities,” he alleged.
“The role of Mulki Sundaram Shetty for the growth of all communities in undivided district has been extraordinary and great. His role on humanitarian values as well as his stand on communal harmony should be remembered. News regarding renaming of Light House Hill road to Mulki Sundaram Shetty Road was already published in various newspapers since several days. St. Aloysius College Institutions website even maintains the name as Light House Hill Road. Mulki Sundaram Shetty was an alumnus of St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru.
Earlier the state government had decided to rename the said road from Catholic Centre to Jyothi Circle to Mulki Sundaram Shetty Road and sent circular on the matter. But all of a sudden the cancellation of the said renaming programme has severely insulted the Bunts community in undivided district which is not tolerable.
Under the district in-charge minister, a meeting will be held at Mangaluru on July 8. If the result of the meeting is not in favour of our demand, further action will be taken”, he reiterated. He warned the MCC or state government to act immediately in renaming Mulki Sundaram Shetty Road and not give scope for any untoward incident on the matter, he said.
Belve Vasanth Kumar Shetty, Bunts community Jana Jagruthi Balaga Convener M Chandra Shekar Hegde, Aroor Thimmappa Shetty, Krishnaraj Shetty legal adviser and other members of the Balaga were present during the press meet.
