Mega Convention against Kasturirangan report on Jan 1

Mangalore Today News Network

Madikeri, Dec 7, 2014: Speaking to mediapersons, ’Kasturirangan Varadi Virodhi Horata Samithi’ President Appachu Ranjan declared a  mega convention against the implementation of Kasturirangan committee report on conservation of Western Ghats and move of the Superintendent of Police in filing case against ’fighters,’ will be held at Madikeri on January 1,

Appachu Ranjan thes stated  that the officials are not responding to the problems faced by the people. “We are tired of the behavior of the officials. Hence left with no option, we are following the path of protest.” Former MLC Arun Machaiah said that the officials are not coming forward to solve the problems related to Jamma Bane and levying of tax on Baane land.

“Our opinions were not collected while preparing a report by Kasturirangan committee. The recommendation copy has not been translated to Kannada. There was no discussion on pros and cons of the report. We are staging apolitical protest against the report.” MLA K G Bopaiah said “citizens of the district do not want the implementation of Kasturirangan committee report. When the government fails to respond to the demands of the people, then the demand for separate statehood arises.

However, we are not separatists.” “We do not want lessons on protecting forest. We the people of Kodagu have been conserving forest from time immemorial. We will conserve forest in the future as well,” he added.

JD(S) district unit President VP Shashidhar said “people of the district staged a road block and expressed their displeasure at the Kasturirangan committee report. However, the police action of filing a case is condemnable. The cases should be withdrawn.” The district JD(S) unit will fight for the cause of the people.

Taluk Panchayat member and Congress leader Neravanda Umesh said that opposing Kasturirangan committee report, gram panchayat, Zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat members will tender resignation in the future.

ZP President Chodumada Shareen Subbaiah, Vice President Usha Devamma, Somwarpet Block Congress President KM Lokesh and others were present.