Mangaluru: To protest against the mismanagement of national highways, including an incident where a woman died after falling into a pothole with her vehicle, the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee (DCC) organised a demonstration, and took out a procession, and attempted to lay siege to the NHAI office here on Friday. During the protest, Congress members carried a mock corpse on their shoulders and shouted slogans against the central govt to express their anger.The protesters marched towards the NHAI office near Nanthoor, where they attempted to lay siege amidst tight police security. MLC Ivan D’Souza, NSUI president Suhan Alva, and other Congress functionaries were detained and taken away in a police vehicle.At the beginning of the protest near Nanthoor Circle, Congress members led by MLC Ivan D’Souza and DCC president Harish Kumar gathered and shouted slogans against the central govt. D’Souza criticised the central govt’s negligence in maintaining national highways, despite releasing substantial funds for repairs. He lamented that potholes on these roads led to fatal accidents.He further criticised BJP representatives for not addressing such negligence-related fatalities, despite raising concerns about potholes on national highways for months. He demanded that the central govt provide a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the families affected by the highway’s poor condition, including the family of the recently deceased woman.Congress members under the leadership of KPCC general secretary Mithun Rai carried the mock corpse from Nanthoor Circle to the NHAI office and attempted to enter the premises, but were stopped by police. As they tried to push past the barricades, police detained the leaders.Mithun Rai said NHAI, local MPs, and BJP MLAs are directly responsible for the woman’s death reported at Kuloor recently. He vowed to continue the protest until all potholes on the highway are filled.KPCC general secretary Padmaraj R Poojary spoke about the numerous accidents and injuries caused by potholes over the past few months. Despite warnings, highway officials, MPs, and local MLAs remained silent. He criticised BJP members for not speaking about development issues, but for inciting religious sentiments.Congress functionaries JR Lobo, Mamatha Gatti and Shashidhar Hegde were present.
