Yeddyurappa seeks to know Gowda's contribution as PM

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa on Tuesday sought to know what contribution H D Deve Gowda had made as the country's Prime Minister.

Yeddyurappa made the remarks while addressing Lingayat seers who staged a demonstration at Belagavi against alleged injustice meted out to North Karnataka.

The seers demanded an overall development of North Karnataka but did not support bifurcation of the state.

"Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda has asked what contribution (former chief ministers) Nijalingappa, S R Bommai and Veerendra Patil have made for North Karnataka.

While giving such statements, he should think of what he had contributed as the prime minister of India. We should avoid making accusations and counter-accusations," Yeddyurappa said.

A large number of Lingayat seers, including Shivalingeshwara Swamiji of Nidasoshi Math, Chandrashekhar Shivacharya Swamiji of Hukkeri and Naganur Rudrakshi Math pontiff Siddharam Swamiji, took part in the protest.

Yeddyurappa, however, did not support dividing Karnataka and said whatever shortcomings were there could be set right.

He blamed chief minister H D Kumaraswamy for giving room to the demand for statehood for North Karnataka.

"I have already told him (Kumaraswamy) that you are the chief minister of 224 assembly constituencies and not of a limited number of districts," the BJP state chief said.

He said the government should release more funds to the region understanding the grievances of the people of North Karnataka.

Yeddyurappa said the chief minister should have come to meet the seers, apologised for his statements and rectify the "injustice meted out to North Karnataka."

Meanwhile, Congress MLA from Yamakanmardi, Satish Jarkiholi, too backed the agitation and demanded that the government address the region's grievances.

He, however, did not favour the division of the state.