Mysore/Mysuru: The city was witness to a slew of protests yesterday as many organisations staged demonstrations at various venues for different reasons.

Members of Parisara Samrakshana Trust staged a protest near Visvesvaraya Circle (Government Ayurveda College Circle) against the MCC’s move to fell down two healthy rain trees on Irwin Road for facilitating road expansion works.

Maintaining that the two rain trees are adjacent to the Ayurveda College compound and do not come in the way of Irwin Road widening, the protesters alleged that the MCC is planning to fell down the trees even though the Forest Department had not given permission for the same.

They urged the authorities to save the trees from chopping off more so because the two rain tress   have a significance of their own and are gifts from the erstwhile Mysore rulers.

Trust office-bearers Bhanu Mohan, Aravind Sharma, Nagendra, Leela Venkatesh and others were present.

At DC’s Office

In another protest, vehicle drivers, under the banner of Karnataka Vehicle Drivers Welfare Association, staged a demonstration near the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) Office seeking release of one-time financial assistance to all drivers announced by the State Govt. during COVID-19 lockdown.

Claiming that many drivers were yet to get relief despite months of announcement, the protesters urged the Government to fulfil their various other demands and thus come to their rescue during the COVID-19 crisis, when they are finding it hard to lead life in the absence of earnings.

Association office-bearers M.N. Kumar, Sharath Babu, Teertha Kumar,  P. Umesh, Subramanya and others took part.

Guest Lecturers

Continuing their weekly protest on Tuesday, Guest Lecturers, under the banner of Karnataka Government Degree College Guest Lecturers State Co-ordination Committee, staged a demonstration near the DC’s Office seeking fulfilment of their demands, which included job security, payment of salaries during lockdown period and continuance of serving Guest Lecturers for the forthcoming academic year, among others.

Committee office-bearers Diwakar, Mahesh, Anil Kumar and others  took part in the stir.

At Town Hall

Members of Madiga Sanghatanegala Okkoota staged a dharna in Town Hall premises seeking implementation of Justice Sadashiva Commission Report on inner-reservation.

Demanding that the State Government accept the report and implement the same, the protesters wanted the Government to render justice to Madiga Community by providing inner reservation as recommended by the Commission.

Okkoota office-bearers R. Sunanda Kumar, Rajanna, Nagendra, Basappa, Shivamurthy, Rajendra and others participated.

Privatisation of Railways 

Members of Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) staged a demonstration in front of Chamarajapuram Railway Station in protest against alleged move for privatisation of Railways.

Maintaining that the Railway Department is functioning with tax-payers money, the protesters urged the Government to drop any move for privatisation of Railways, which they said was the most preferred transport of the common man.

SUCI members Sandhya and others led the stir.

At ZP Office

Seeking action against Bogadi Gram Panchayat PDO, whom they accused of indulging in corruption, members of Dalit Sangharsha Samithi (DSS) staged a demonstration in front of Zilla Panchayat (ZP) Office here.

Accusing the PDO of  rampant corruption in Bogadi GP, they wanted a probe against him and  also sought his removal.

DSS office-bearers Harihara Anandaswamy, Chandrashekar, S. Nagaraj and others took part.