The Hindu : Karnataka News : Activists stage protest against denial of quota in railways

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Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Activists stage protest against denial of quota in railways

Staff Correspondent

Effigy of Railway Minister set on fire in Mysore

Agitators take out procession
Lalu Prasad’s removal sought

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

ANGER: Activists setting an effigy on fire in Mysore on Tuesday. Vatal Nagaraj is seen.

MYSORE: The former MLA, Vatal Nagaraj, and his supporters staged an agitation in front of the railway station here on Tuesday protesting against the denial of reservation to Kannadigas in railway recruitment and also new railway routes to the State.

The activists burnt an effigy of the Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in protest against his alleged “anti-Kannada” remarks during his visit to the State on Monday.

The protestors took out a procession from Jagjivan Ram Circle to the railway station seeking the fulfilment of demands, including job reservation, submitted to the Railways by the State.

Shouting slogans against the Minister and the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government for their “anti-Kannada” stance, Mr. Vatal Nagaraj, while addressing the protestors, criticised the Minister for his alleged remarks against the people of Karnataka.

He threatened to launch a State-wide agitation if Mr. Lalu Prasad did not tender an apology for his reported remarks. He even warned that he would give a call for a Karnataka bandh if their demands are not considered.

Mr. Nagaraj demanded the dismissal of Mr. Lalu Prasad from the Cabinet for hurting the sentiments of Kannadigas. He said that no Central Minister had ever behaved as Mr. Lalu Prasad had when they visited the State. “The Minister will be stopped from entering the State if he failed to apologise. He will be mobbed by our activists if he enters the State,” he said.

Mr. Nagaraj urged MPs from Karnataka to seek an apology from Mr. Lalu Prasad. “They must stage a dharna in front of the Prime Minister’s Office and Parliament seeking the removal of Mr. Lalu Prasad from the Ministry. If they cannot pursue the matter, they better resign and return to the State,” he said.

Accusing the Railways of meting out step-motherly treatment to the State, he said the State’s demands had not been considered favourably. “Despite our struggle demanding rail link between Chamarajnagar and Mettupalyam in the last 35 years, the Union Government had done little on this front,” he alleged.

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