Mangaluru : The commuters from Kerala burnt vaccination certificates as a mark of protest against Karnataka’s rule. The protesters questioned the validity of Karnataka’s rule that mandates RT-PCR negative report instead of vaccination certificate for interstate commuters at Dakshina Kannada borders.

The daily commuters from Kasaragod, who work in Dakshina Kannada, held a protest near Talapady check post opposing Dakshina Kannada district’s Covid-19 restrictions.

Kasaragod district panchayat development standing committee chairman Harshad Vorkady said though the Supreme Court has directed states not to interrupt interstate movement, the Karnataka government has imposed severe restrictions at borders.

“People from Kasaragod district and other parts of Kerala are made to suffer due to the border restrictions. The central government has already directed that those who have taken two doses of vaccine should not be prevented from interstate movement. Hence, Karnataka chief minister Basavarj Bommai should review his decision and allow people from Kerala, who have received both doses of vaccine, to enter Karnataka,” Vorkady said.

Meanwhile, Manjeshwar units of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), CPI(M) and CPI also held a protest against RT-PCR negative report rule for interstate commuters. The protesters blocked the Karnataka – Kerala National highway.

Kasaragod district collector Bhandari Swagat Ranveerchand visited Talapady and took stock of the situation.

Meanwhile, protesters expressed their grievances with the collector and sought immediate intervention to open the interstate borders between Kasaragod and Dakshina Kannada districts.

Restrictions continued at interstate borders of Dakshina Kannada district on Monday. People were allowed to enter the coastal district only with RT-PCR negative reports. Dakshina Kannada district had made interstate surveillance strict after August 2 following a surge number of positive cases in the coastal district.