Belagavi seers to protest regional imbalance on July 31

Belagavi district seers have joined in for a common cause and decided to stage a protest in front of the Suvarna Soudha, on July 31.

The protest is against the alleged discrimination against, and negligence in, the development of north Karnataka region by successive governments.

The seers collectively announced the July 31 protest at a media conference on Monday.

The seers have come together to exert pressure on the Kumaraswamy-led coalition government to take concrete measures and begin the process of building north Karnataka region at par with the developed south Karnataka region.

The Lingayat seers (heading mutts in the district) participating in the protest are, Shri Siddarama Swamiji of Rudrakshimath, Naganur, Shri Chandrashekhar Shivacharya Swamiji, Hukkeri and Shri Panchamalingeshwar Swamiji of Nidasosi.

Lopsided development

"We wish to draw the attention of the government and sensitise it, to burning issues and urgent development works to be taken up in the north Karnataka region; particularly Belagavi district," they echoed.

The seers said that the Suvarna Soudha was confined to being a venue for 10-day winter sessions and the edifice was lying idle. The demand for establishing secretariat-level offices there had fallen on deaf ears.

Injustice against north Karnataka had continued with sheer indifference. The poor infrastructure was troubling the people of the region.

Growing ire

Continued negligence had only given rise to the demand for a separate north Karnataka State. People from the region have greatly contributed to the unification of the state and are deeply hurt by the discrimination by successive governments.

The frustration of the people here is gaining momentum and would soon turn into a movement demanding bifurcation of the state. The government will be directly responsible for this.

The seers, however, clarified that people are still in favour of a united Karnataka.

Govt cautioned

They said the government should not take the people of the region for granted and must take their growing ire seriously before it was too late.

Continuing with their step-motherly attitude and the regional imbalance would only provoke people to consolidate their struggle and to the extent of giving a clarion call for separate north Karnataka state, the Swamijis cautioned.