KDA chief flays Katti's remarks

Kannada Development Authority Chairperson Mukhyamantri Chandru on Friday  criticised Agriculture Minister Umesh Katti for his remarks on separate statehood for the North Karnataka region.

Addressing reporters, he said the State will not and cannot be divided at any cost. “We all should live in unity. Katti should take back his remarks,” he said, adding that opening of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha has sent a strong message to the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti leaders that Belgaum is an integral part of Karnataka.

Katti had stated that inauguration of Suvarna Soudha would help in the formation of a separate North Karnataka state. He had also strongly advocated the separate statehood, citing regional imbalance. On naming the second secretariat in Belgaum, Chandru said it would be appropriate to name it Suvarna Vidhana Soudha and there should be no confusion in this regard.

On the Cauvery river water-sharing issue, he said the government should stick to its decision of not releasing water to Tamil Nadu. “The government should not relent on its decision of not releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu even if it is dismissed on charges of contempt of court,” he said.