Gram Panchayat officials along with the residents of Shirali continued their 'Dharna Satyagraha' for second day; urges for 45-meter National Highway widening

Bhatkal 17 February 2019: Condemning the widening of National Highway which is limited to 30 meters, the Gram Panchayat officials along with the residents of Shirali on Saturday continued their 'Dharna Satyagraha' for second day here beside the NH-66 near Shirali of Bhatkal taluk. Bhatkal MLA Sunil Naik also joined the protesters on Saturday and addressed them, and said, “As Shirali is a busy place where thousands of people in and around Shirali commute through this place including hundreds of school students, it is needed that the NH here is widened to 45 meters.” “I have already visited the District Commissioners office twice and submitted memorandums. I have also spoken with our district MP Anantkumar Hegde and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nithin Gadkari regarding the issue and have got sanctions of fund from the Central Government. But, due to the land acquisition by the state Government we are waiting for the approval from it. I have already spoken to the Chief Minister of Karnataka and have submitted memorandum too. Unless the district commissioner visits the place and ensures the widening of road to 45 meters, the protest will continue”. He added. “As I am also a Shiralian, I extend my wholehearted support to the protest and will ensure that the efforts will not go in vein” MLA added. Surprisingly, few of the Sadhus(Hindu saints) from North-India also joined protesters and took part in the Dharna. Tahsildhar VN Bhadkar and ZP President Jayashree Moger also visited the place and accepted the memorandum from them. Panchayat President Venkatesh Naik, poet RV Sharaf, Prabhakar Naik, Baskhar, Mohan Devadiga, Shankar Naik, Nagesh Devadiga and others were present during the protest.