BJP brings back 'injustice to NK' issue

Alleging that the JD(S)-Congress coalition government is doing injustice to North Karnataka region including Hubballi-Dharwad, the BJP members continued their protest for the third consecutive day on Monday.

Release of Rs 115 crore pending grants to the Hubballi-Dgarwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), and early approval for Rs 24 crore proposal to lift additional 40 MLD of water from Malaprabha reservoir are their major demands.

"Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy is on a 'temple run', but he did not visit a temple or mutt in North Karnataka, and it also shows his anti-North Karnataka attitude," State BJP vice-president M Nagaraj said.

In the protest pandal erected on the footpath in front of Mini Vidhan Soudha in Hubballi, BJP members raised slogans against State Government, chief minister and ministers.

"During his visit to Hubballi, the then chief minister Siddaramaiah assured to release pending pension grants, and that has not yet been released. Moreover, approval for bulk water improvement plan is delayed, due to which people are experiencing water scarcity," protesters said.

Hubballi-Dharwad has been neglected since last six years, and everything is being concentrated in southern Karnataka. Hubballi-Dharwad is neglected in this year's budget also. Through Union Government has sanctioned grants for road development under Central Road Fund (CRF), the State Government is not calling tenders, they noted.

With no pension grants, HDMC gave pension using its general fund, which hampered development works including road repairs. Special funds should be announced for the HDMC, they added.

BJP leaders Nagesh Kalburgi, Shivanand Muttannavar, Siddu Mogalishettar, and others led the protest.