Mahadayi agitators boo separate state call

Pro-Kannada, Pro-Dalit and pro-labour organisations, that are fighting under the banner of Mahadayi Kalasa-banduri Horata Samanvaya Samiti seeking Mahadayi water diversion, have clarified that they would not support August 2 bandh demanding separate statehood for North Karnataka region.

"We admit that the development of North Karnataka region is neglected, but having a separate state is not the solution. We have the history of fighting for the unification of Karnataka, and the present demand for separate statehood for the region is politically-motivated," Samiti members said.

Speaking to media persons here on Monday, Samiti convener Mahesh Pattar charged that people's representatives in the region themselves are responsible for lack of development in the region, and to hide their failures, they are provoking separate statehood demand.

It seems that the BJP wants to create smaller states and to rule them, and therefore, BJP leaders are giving confusing statements about the issue. An unknown organisation has now given the bandh call. Instead, the discussion should be held with experts, unification movement leaders, litterateurs and others, about North Karnataka development. Dr Nanjundappa Committee report should be implemented in a time-bound manner, and the government should prepare a plan for that, Pattar said.

Amrut Ijari of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike stated that both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are in financial crisis after the bifurcation, and that should not happen to us.

Why Umesh Katti, B Shriramulu and others, who are talking about separate statehood, did not show interest to resolve Mahadayi issue for which farmers are agitating continuously, he asked.

We want decentralisation of power and development of North Karnataka region. We also demand to shift the offices of some departments from Bengaluru to Suvarna Vidhan Soudha in Belagavi. But, we do not support the demand for a separate state, Ijari said, adding that veteran journalist Patil Puttappa is also not in favour of state bifurcation.

Kumaraswamy Hiremath, Suresh Khanapur, Shivanna Hubballi, Shobha Kamatar, and others were present.

KCCI

Karnataka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) also has raised its objection for the demand to have a separate state and clarified that it would also not support the bandh call.

"Injustice is done to North Karnataka in the State Budget. We have to fight to get programmes to develop the region, but we do not support the demand to have a separate state," KCCI president V P Linganagoudar and former president Vasant Ladwa said.