Road renaming issue: Sunder Ram Shetty fans to hold rally today

Road renaming issue: Sunder Ram Shetty fans to hold rally today

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 30, 2017: In a show of strength of various organisations in favour of renaming Light House Hill Road after Mulki Sunder Ram Shetty, late chairman of Vijaya Bank, a mammoth rally has been organised today July 30, Sunday.

Plans are to flag off rally from Bunts Bhavan in Padubidri at 10 am and it will culminate at Mulki, the native place of Shetty, where a convention will be held. This was resolved during a programme organised by Mulki Sunder Ram Shetty Fans’ Association at Town Hall Mangaluru July 29, Saturday.

The fan associations, including Vijaya Bank Workers’ and Officers’ Union, had organised the memorial programme to discuss the future course of action.

The contentious issue here is the claim of St Aloysius College authorities, who have formed an action committee, advocating that the same stretch of road is already named after St Aloysius and hence it should be retained.  The gathering at Town Hall rose in unison and endorsed the decision of the association with a huge round of applause to intensify the struggle until and unless their demand for renaming the road is met.

Ajit Kumar Malady, president of Buntara Yaane Nadavara Matr Sangha, asked why both District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai and the state government are not initiating any action, when the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) council had passed an order to christen the particular stretch of road after Shetty, complying with all legal procedures.

Quoting the contents of media briefing held at Aloysius College on Friday, Malady sought to clarify that he never made a mention of any legislators, during his media briefing in relation to the issue, as alleged by registrar of college A M Narahari. "I have always espoused the cause of communal harmony as it is evident with the people from different religions felicitated during the Ganesha festival celebrated by Buntara Yaane Nadavara Matr Sangha," said Malady, expressing his pain at the allegations levelled by Narahari, for stoking communal colour.

Malady also made it clear that he will not engage in any talks with the disgruntled lot over the issue, as they are showing scant respect towards the sangha. Pointing at Aloysians, Malady said, "Had they approached us without blowing the issue out of proportion, we would have happily agreed to their demand."

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel questioned the Aloysians’ for silence for two years when the proposal was still in the making between 2015 and 17.

Writer Erya Lakshminarayana Alva, who sang paeans of Shetty for taking Vijaya Bank to greater heights, wanted Aloysians to be held responsible for the future consequences.  Former minister K Amarnath Shetty, who recently met Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H D Deve Gowda in this regard, said Gowda has drafted a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in this regard.

Shetty said he has handed over another letter in this regard to the office of Urban Development Minister R Roshan Baig in Bengaluru.  Disputing the claims of St Aloysius College, Shetty said, "Even the brochure issued by the college mentions the location as Light House Hill Road".

Former minister B Nagaraj Shetty claimed to have some documents in his possession to prove that the name of Light House Hill Road has been changed to St Aloysius College Road, on Google search. It is impossible, when all other major landmark buildings on the stretch of the road still bear the address Light House Hill Road, he claimed.

Blasius D’Souza road :  Civil rights activist Hanumantha Kamath  fired a first salvo against St Aloysius College saying, "We did not oppose the naming of a particular stretch of road after former minister Blasius D’Souza (from Balmatta Junction to Karavali Circle)."

Recalling the developments that happened in a jiffy with a local legislator impressing upon the government to temporarily stay the order of city corporation council, thus thwarting the naming of the Light House Hill Road after Shetty, Kamath sought to remind Aloysians that "the website of St Aloysius College has a mention of Light House Hill Road.’  Many knowledgeable and unbiased citizens express their choice that "Light House Hill Road" is the right name.