August 2 bandh: CM H D Kumaraswamy to meet North Karnataka seers, netas

Bengaluru, 29 July 2018 [Fik/News Sources]: Chairman of the Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti on Saturday held elected representatives of north Karnataka responsible for tardy development of the region even as the Congress reached out to the separate statehood activists to call off August 2 bandh.  Addressing the media here, he wondered why leaders of the region failed to undertake development activities though some of them even occupied the top position of Chief Minister.  Stating that Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has decided to convene a meeting with seers and others demanding separate statehood at any place in one of the districts in the region, and would address their demands.

“I don’t favour separate statehood for north Karnataka region. I have spoken to the Chief Minister on Friday and he will meet with seers and agitators. Let them bring all the information about pending projects and funds released for the region. He will set right everything if there is injustice caused to them in the budget. All these leaders should finalise the venue and date of the meeting”, he added. 

Asserting that nothing could be achieved by demanding a eparate statehood for north Karnataka, he said many Chief Ministers hailed from the region after a committee headed by the late Dr Nanjundappa submitted its report for redressal of regional imbalance. He also felt that thorough discussion should be held by all political leaders for over all development of the region and urged the leaders of various organization to list the demands for discussions before calling for a bandh on August 2. 

Responding to Kannada activist Patil Puttappa's warning that the voice for separate statehood would grow louder if the government continued to neglect the region, Mr Horatti expressed confidence that the veteran journalist would not support division of the state and also said he would hold discussions with him on the issue. 

Meanwhile, Raitha Sene president Veeresh Sobaradmath,  said the Mahadayi dispute should not be used for agitation for statehood. Expressing apprehension that such attempts would deflect the Mahadayi agitation, he said even people from south Karnataka who favoured united State have rendered support to the early implementation of Kalasa Banduri project. “We will support the bandh against neglect of north Karnataka. But we will not favour separate statehood for the region,” Mr Sobaradmath added.