Mahadayi agitators oppose demand

The Mahadayi Kalasa-Banduri Horata Samanvaya Samiti has clarified that it will not support the August 2 bandh demanding separate statehood for North Karnataka.

"We agree that the development of North Karnataka has been neglected, but having a separate state is not the solution," Samiti members said.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday, Samiti convener Mahesh Pattar charged that the people's representatives in the region were responsible for the lack of development. To hide their failures, they are stoking the separate state demand.

It seems that the BJP wants to create smaller states, to be able to rule them. Therefore, the state BJP leaders are giving confusing statements about the issue, Pattar said.

Amrut Ijari of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike said Andhra Pradesh and Telangana face a financial crisis after their bifurcation and that should not happen to us.

Veteran journalist Patil Puttappa was also not in favour of bifurcation, he said.

The Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has opposed the demand for a separate state and clarified that it will not support the bandh call.

Former minister H K Patil said efforts should be towards overall development of united Karnataka. Any shortcomings in the development of North Karnataka should be overcome in a democratic manner, he added.

Dingaleshwar Swami has expressed support for the demand for a separate state.