Poor People badly affected by Nationwide Bandh
Mangaluru: The nationwide bandh on September 2 created a lot of inconvenience to people who came by train from far away places. But the bandh did not have any impact on a few visitors who had come to Mangaluru to see places in the city on September 2. The poor people were badly affected by the bandh whereas the rich and the middle class used their own vehicles to move around.
Speaking to mangalorean.com a couple from Chennai, said, “We reached Mangaluru railway station on September 2, at 9 am. We wanted to visit the Shri Gokarnanatheshwar Temple in Kudroli. We asked the auto driver to drop us to Kudroli temple but he demanded a fare of Rs 150. We then approached a taxi, the driver asked Rs 300. Instead of paying Rs 300, we have decided to walk to the temple since, someone said it is about 2 to 3 kms from here. We are visiting the Gokarnanatheshwar temple for the first time and this is our second visit to Mangaluru. Tomorrow we are planning to go to Dharmasthala.”
He further said that people who are encouraging such bandhs do not understand the problems of those who travel from far away places. The auto and taxi drivers take advantage of such situations and loot the passengers. The government should take strict action against those who encourage and hold bandhs. Before staging such bandhs they should realise that they are responsible for the huge revenue losses to the economy. There is no logic for calling these bandhs and strikes when so much hardship is caused to the common people.
Another group of visitors from Germany speaking to mangalorean.com said, “We have come from Germany to see the beautiful places in Mangaluru. Today due to the Bundh we will walk the streets of Mangaluru city. Anyways we do not have to worry as we love to walk.
When asked how they will go around the city. Leonie said, “We Germans, love to walk and we did not hire any vehicle to see the places in Mangaluru. We reached Mangaluru last evening, We thought that today is a holiday, Now we realized that there is a bandh. As there is bandh we prefer to walk as we can see many places. Now we are on the way to the port in Bunder”.
An IT engineer Venkatesh, who came from Bengaluru, to attend a function in his friend’s house said, “The protest is of no use, some of their demands are not feasible. I have 8 years of experience in my job, when I first joined my salary was very low. I have worked hard and risen to the level where I am now and I am happy with what I earn. Such protests and bandhs are not the answer for any problems. We need to think in a productive and logical way without causing harm to our economy and country. The most affected by such bandhs are the poor and the travellers and not those who have called for the bandh”.
Minor incidents of stone pelting and burning of tyres was reported in various places in the district.