They came from the beaches. They came from the river banks. They came from the valleys. They came amongst fishers. They came amongst agriculturists. They came amongst peasants. They came amongst tribal communities. They came amongst various fishing communities. They came from transport workers. They came from number of villages. They came from Ankola Taluka of Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka. Thousands of them. They were men. They were women. They were youth. They were old. They carried common resolve in heart. No to Port at Keni Beach waters!
In the morning of 22 July 2026 they assembled in Ankola town. They unpacked their bags and placards moved in different hands. This day thousands had taken break from their livelihood engagements. They stopped their agriculture work. They stopped their fishing work. They stopped all their kinds of work. They stopped it all for a day. They had their voices ready. Ready to roar. Ready to dare.
They assembled before the two statues of personalities that inspired them. One of those statues is of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi at Ankola Swatantrya Sangrama Smarak Bhavan. .
Few thousand people were taking inspiration from the Indian Freedom Movement. That era Movement was directed against British rule. Today movement was directed against corporate rule with Jindal Steel Works (JSW) as invader of Keni coast in Ankola with State backing.
They term their revolt as "horata". They publicly condemned imposition of Port at Keni "Dikkara". They carried placards. They shouted slogans. They advocated defence of shores from the Ports. People with a purpose thronged the roads that connect the highway. And soon they were marching on it. They had sound system to amplify their voices. They had secured permissions for it though negotiations with police.
They found their voice on National Highway (NH - 66). They walked. Police alongside. Lady police included. Thousands walked. Few emergency vehicles from fire safety department. Few ambulances to lift and take to hospital in case any protesters collapsed while working. Walking on highway was unprecedented. Seeking permision from the administration is story by itself. Permission was sought for march from Ankola to Karwar covering nearly 35 kms. Permision was denied citing that it is monsoon season and rains would make walking difficult in addition to risks of accidents on highway besides the safety of those walking in case of health emergencies. Negotiations followed. Authorities allowed walking upto to 05 kms and then buses and other vehicles to be used to move to Karwar.
After 05 kms walk vehicle carried protesters to Karwar to disembark under the flyover facing Karwar Beach. From here another march. This time more people joined from Karwar and the surrounding villages to express their support and Solidarity. People even came from far away places like Belgaum, Honnavar and Goa to support the protest demands. From National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF) two office bearers participated. Raju Tandel, Organising Secretary, Karnataka and General Secretary Sebastian Rodrigues.
March moved with thundering slogans through the air attracting attention of passers in the Karwar Town for nearly 03 kms. The final destination of the march was the office of Deputy Commisioner, Karwar who heads administration in Uttara Kannada. Organisers were as much disciplined as they were sensitive. They made sure that there would be no breach of law and order situation during the protests. Internal system was put in place to diffuse the tension. They were also very sensitive to arrange adequate water and good tasty lunch for several thousands people. They even arranged chairs for the needy and tired to sit under the flyover. All the waste generated during the lunch was picked up and taken for disposal.
Protests started in front of the closed gate of Deputy commisioner. Police guarded the gate from inside. Protesters sat in front of the gate and shouted slogans. No traffic disruption was seen as police handled that aspect well. V.N. Nayak and others were seen near the gate. After some time gate was opened few amongst protesters went in. Deputy commisioner Laxmi Priya walked near the gate and stood few meters away from the gate. V.N. Nayak who is a scientist and others like Vikas Tandel were allowed inside the gate. V.N.Nayak then presented the objections to Port projects at Keni. The entire conversation was in Kannada. Sound system was arranged to ensure that voices are heard even beyond the gate.
Deputy Commisioner Laxmi Priya then addressed the protesters and said that the Keni Port has not received Environmental Clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). She also informed that the Keni Port has not received CRZ Clearances too. In the absence to these required permissions work on site will not be started. Her speech was greeted with clapps.
Within a minute however churnings were felt. Questions were raised on what Deputy Commissioner spoke. Some felt it was expected state response to situations Ike this. Others felt that her coming to the gate and meeting protesters itself was an achievement. Still others believed that what she spoke was far below the expectations to the range of declaration of cancelation of the Port project. A sensitive dissenting voice questioned as to why women protesters were not allowed to have direct communications with Deputy Commisioner. There is lots to think about as the organisers go about evaluating the past and planning for the future of on ground resistance to Port at Keni.
Word of appreciation to Sanjeev Balegar and his team at Ankola Sarva Samajagala Hitarakshana Sangha for conducting such a huge show of dissent. Protest march of this magnitude demonstrated will and determination of Ankola people. Their actions are certain inspirations to everyone concerned about defence of coastal areas in the face of such Port projects that spells doom to coastal people in several ways.
Sebastian Rodrigues
No comments:
Post a Comment