He was speaking at the first Karnataka Gadinada Sammelana- 2010 organised on the account of first anniversary celebration of the news paper ‘Gadinada Dhwani’ at Kasargod CMC Sammelana hall. He said that none of the Karnataka Chief Ministers except Nijalingappa, knew where Kasargod was. “Karnataka has overlooked Kasargod more than the Kerala government. In spite of Kasargod people living an awful life, none of the MPs and Central Ministers from Karnataka have ever raised their voice in favour of the historical land of Kasargod,” he complained and added that he is ready to get imprisoned fighting for the cause. “A survey to examine the problems of Gadinadu people should be taken up and proper educational facilities must be provided to the residents.
Senior poet of Gadinadu Nadoja Dr Kayyara Kinianna Rai must be awarded with ‘Karnataka Ratna’ award. What has Karnataka government done for the future of 3 crores of Kannadigas who are residing outside Karnataka?, he questioned.
Move to merge
Meanwhile, he also informed that an initiative to merge Kasargod with Karnataka will be taken up after meeting the leaders from Kerala in the month of February, followed by the submission of plea to the Central government. “We will urge the Central government to implement Mahajan report as it is,” he added.
‘Implement Mahajan report’
Harikrishna Punaroor in his presidential address described the pathetic condition of Kannada schools in Gadinadu and said that Mahajan report has not been implemented due to the lack of fighting spirit in the Kannadigas. What is the use of having a government which has failed to award Kayyara Kinianna Rai with ‘Karnataka Ratna’?, he questioned.
‘Merger impractical’
MLA C H Kunhambu in his address opined that it is impractical to speak about joining Kasargod with Karnataka, so it is better to rethink in terms of merging, he said. On the occasion, Kasargod Kannada Ratna award was given to A V Shyanubhog and Adur Umesh Naik.
MLA C T Ahmed Ali, Prema Elloji Rao, Akhila Karnataka Kendra Kannada Kriya Samiti Secretary Mohan Nagammanavara, film director K Suchendra Prasad, D Shyam Prasad Shastri and others were present.
The formal function was followed by a national conference on the Kerala-Karnataka border dispute and poets meet.