Captain Gopinath heckled by green activist

Captain Gopinath heckled by green activist


FOR A GREEN CAUSE: Captain Gopinath and fashion guru Prasad Bidappa forming a human chain to protest cutting of trees at Lalbagh.
Express News Service First Published : 16 Apr 2009 04:02:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 16 Apr 2009 11:30:57 AM IST
BANGALORE: Captain Gopinath, the independent candidate from Bangalore South, was heckled on Wednesday by an activist from Hasiru Usiru (a citizen’s environment group), leaving the Captain perturbed.
The incident occurred when Gopinath was participating in a human chain organised by Hasiru Usiru and Lalbagh Walkers Association.
The human chain was to protest the construction of the metro rail in Lalbagh.
The activist from Hasiru Usiru, who didn’t liked to be named, accused Gopinath of being hand in glove with Ananth Kumar, BJP candidate from Bangalore South constituency.
The activist accused Gopinath of filing his nomination only to divide the secular votes in the constituency. Taken aback, Gopinath said he could vote for whichever party he wanted and there was nothing binding on him.
Later, he addressed the press and said that the human chain was an effort to save Lalbagh and was not against the metro. He announced that on Friday there would be a similar protest under the banner ‘Save Lalbagh.’ Speaking on the occasion, one of the activists said, “The government has no regard for the history and heritage of the city. Lalbagh has been acting as a lung space for the citizens of Bangalore and it has to be protected.”