'Develop North Karnataka or face protest'

Uttara Karnataka Horata Samiti and Uttara Karnataka Vikasa Vedike on Tuesday warned of violent protests if the government failed to protect interests of North Karnataka (NK) region.

Addressing reporters, the Samiti President Nilesh Bannur charged that the state government sanctioned only detrimental projects to North Karnataka, while welfare projects went to South Karnataka.

"We feel jealous to see the development projects sanctioned to South Karnataka. The government sanctions only projects like thermal power plants to NK that are detrimental," he said.

"The budget fails to do justice to the entire state. It concentrates only on Mysuru region," he charged.

"Let the government form separate North Karnataka state if it is unable to protect interests of North Karantaka. It will become a big news if four buses are burnt here. The news will also reach Vidhana Soudha," he said.

"We will lock Suvarna Vidhana Soudha if the government fails to respond. Considering damage to our properties, we are staging a peaceful protest," he said.

The Vedike convener Ashok Poojary said: "The protest will be intensified if the government does not relocate half about 50 % governemnt departments to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha. We will stage severe protests if it fails to hold Assembly sessions and cabinet meeting here."

The Vedike leader B R Sangappagol condemned the NK region representatives for not questioning the State government about the injustice meted out in the budget.