Udupi: There was chaos at the Nemmadi Kendra here. Hundreds of applicants, trying to secure their below the poverty line (BPL) and above poverty line (APL) ration cards, went berserk over lack of arrangements at the kendra and the delay in the processing of their applications there on Saturday.

The kendra in Udupi has been processing the applications for ration cards from the residents of 35 wards and eight gram panchayats coming under the Udupi hobli since December 15, 2008.

With over 600 people gathering in front of the kendra on Saturday, the processing of applications became sluggish and the infuriated applicants began protesting against poor arrangements there.

Tahsildar V. Prasanna rushed to the spot on hearing about the protest being staged by people at the kendra and succeeded in pacifying them. Normality was restored.

Udupi: The issue of illegal buildings coming up on the Malpe port premises dominated the general body meeting of Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) here on Saturday.

Councillor Kiran Kumar, who raised the issue, said there were at least seven buildings on the Malpe port premises, which had been constructed without obtaining licences. A former MP too had a building without licence there. “Do the municipal laws not apply to the port area?” he asked.

H.T. Narayanappa, CMC Commissioner, said that he had sought details from the port officer and the latter had promised to provide him the same in a week. “If there is no response after a week, the CMC will start issuing notices,” he said.

Mr. Kumar wanted to know how the CMC had permitted the Komu Sauharda Vedike to hold its protest meeting near the Old Flower Market on January 10. This was done in gross violation of a resolution passed by the CMC that permission should not be given to organisations which were unregistered or did not have proper addresses, he added.

Mr. Narayanappa said that in all municipalities certain spots were marked for public meetings. The vedike’s case would be inquired into. It would be better if the CMC convened a meeting and identified the places where public meetings could be held, he said.

Councillor Panduranga Malpe said the water fountain at Malpe beach had stopped working although it was installed by spending lakhs of rupees. People were blaming the CMC for it. The Malpe Development Committee had not held its meeting for the last six months. This committee should be disbanded, he said.

Councillor Nityananda Volakadu said that the upkeep of the town hall left a lot to be desired. There was a lot of garbage on its premises. The rent of the town hall should be reduced so that the poor too could conduct their functions there.

The CMC should take immediate steps to deal with accumulation of drainage water near the Shankarnarayana temple, he said.

CMC president Dinakar Shetty and vice president Indira Shekhar were present.

Udupi: The Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) and the Janapara Vedike staged a dharna near the taluk office here on Saturday against the “atrocities against women by Hindu vigilante groups.”

In a memorandum, addressed to Governor Rameshwar Thakur and submitted at the taluk office here, the protesters stated that the members of the Sri Ram Sene had behaved like goons, and attacked and molested women in a pub in Mangalore, recently. “Although many cases have been registered against the leaders and activists of these vigilante groups, the BJP government has ensured that they are withdrawn,” it said. Stating that this was an insult to the judicial system and an indirect encouragement to acts of violence and vandalism, they said that if stern action was not taken against these groups, a time might come when these vigilante groups would themselves be running a parallel administration.

Udupi: The Udupi taluk committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged a dharna in front of the taluk office here on Friday against “the communal agenda” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

In a memorandum, addressed to Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and submitted at the taluk office, the party said that the BJP had started implementing its agenda of converting the State into another Gujarat in the last 200 days of its rule.

Farmers who were protesting against shortage of fertilizer were fired at in Haveri district last year. Then the people protesting against the upward revision of water tariff in Mangalore were caned. The Government’s actions were aimed at encouraging Hindutva groups who indulged in disturbing the peace and harmony in society. The Government had covered up the role of Hindutva groups in a bomb blast that occurred near a court in Hubli. It was trying to “saffronise” the field of education by implementing the agenda of RSS there, they said in the memorandum.

The Government had arrested B.V. Seetaram, director and chairman of Chitra Publications Pvt. Ltd., for reporting against superstitions and fundamentalism in its Kannada daily “Karavali Ale”. Mr. Seetaram was handcuffed by the police, which was a violation of human rights. The Government had failed to prevent attacks on the agents and hawkers engaged in selling “Karavali Ale”.

The police cases against the activists of Bajrang Dal, who had indulged in violence at Baba Budangiri, had been withdrawn. The Government had failed to prevent attacks on churches and prayer halls in Mangalore and other places. The vigilante groups such as Sri Ram Sena and Bajrang Dal had assumed the role of moral police. The free run of these vigilante groups gave an impression that the Governmental machinery had collapsed in the coastal districts. The Government should take immediate steps to control these groups and initiate action against the guilty, the memorandum said.

General secretary of CPI (M) K. Shankar, party leaders Admar Sripati Acharya and P. Vishwanath Rai, president of Employees Insurance Union Prabhakar Kundar, its general secretary U. Gurudutt, labour leaders Sanjeeva Naik, Gopi, and Shashidhar Golla were present.

Udupi: Members of the Udupi district Congress Seva Dal displayed the 2.5-km-long banner that carried the message of peace, unity and harmony among people. The banner was spread from Board High School to the Kinnimulki Swagata Gopura here on Friday. The Seva Dal had planned this banner to mark the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Writers, students, and the public entered their messages of peace and harmony on the banner between 8 a.m. an 10 a.m. Some wrote poems and slogans, while others drew sketches.

Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes also entered his message on the banner.

A siren was sounded at 10.10 a.m. to observe a minute’s silence.

President of the district Congress Seva Dal Ashok Kumar Kodavoor said increasing terrorist activities in the country was a cause for concern.

“The aim of our banner is to foster unity among people and spread the message of non-violence. People should fight terrorism collectively,” he said.

The messages entered on the banner would be submitted to the President of India and Prime Minister through Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Mr. Kodavoor said.

Congress leaders Vasanth Salian, Jayaprakash Hegde, and M.A. Gafoor were present.

Udupi: The Zilla Panchayat Model Higher Primary School at Hiriyadka near Udupi will be celebrating its centenary year on January 30 and 31. The school was established in 1901.

Speaking to presspersons at Hiriyadka on Tuesday, secretary of the Centenary Celebrations Committee Nataraj Hegde said that various activities, including renovation of some sections of the school, had been taken up as part of the centenary celebrations. Cultural and sports events would be held besides honouring the retired teachers of the school, he said.

Udupi: Home Minister V.S. Acharya has said that the State Government is not anti-democratic or anti-language.

He was speaking to presspersons here on Monday.

To a question on the border row with Maharashtra, Dr. Acharya said: “We were ready to give permission to the ‘Maha Melava’ (massive convention) planned by Maharashtra Ekikarna Samiti in Belgaum on January 16. But they planned to observe a ‘Balidan Din’ on January 17, hence we were forced to deny permission to it,” he said.

Dr. Acharya said that both Houses of State legislature had unanimously passed a resolution demanding implementation of the Mahajan Commission Report. “We want the message to reach everyone,” he said.

On the mining issue, he said the State Government had not issued fresh licences.

“We are following a pro-development mining policy. We want value addition done to the iron ore being mined in the State. We have given suitable reply to all the queries on the issue raised by the Opposition at the Belgaum legislature session. Though many important issues were discussed at the session, there was scope for further discussion,” the Minister said.

Udupi: Renowned scholar Bannanje Govindacharya, who has been selected for the Padma Shri for his contribution in the field of literature and education, said on Monday that he had neither expected the award nor desired it.

Speaking to The Hindu on the telephone from Bangalore, Mr. Govindacharya, who is from Udupi, said: “I had not expected the award nor desired it. I got it accidentally. I don’t feel elated by it. I am glad that there is still recognition for good things in the country. I will carry on my work as usual.”