Former MLA and Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha president Vatal Nagaraj on Saturday took out a rally and staged a protest against the ongoing underground drainage (UGD) works in the city.

Nagaraj said that despite being a district centre, Chamarajnagar lacked proper infrastructure facilities. He claimed that the ongoing UGD works were unscientific.

Nagaraj said, next week, several pro-Kannada organisations will approach Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanding development of the district. “To pressure the chief minister, we will offer him ragi rotti, chutni, cow milk and butter,” he said.

Earlier, he took out a rally from Gundlupet Circle to Santemaranahalli Circle, via Dodda Angadi Beedi, Nrupatunga Circle, and Chikka Angadi Beedi. The agitators staged a dharna and blocked the road at Santemaranahalli Circle. Police personnel took Nagaraj into custody, to ease traffic movement, and later released him.

Marathi-speaking people in Belagavi are gearing up to release the poster of movie ‘Marata Tiger’. The government should not allow its release in the State, he said.

He also urged Siddaramaiah to discuss about the closure of Kannada medium schools in parts of Tamil Nadu with Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha.