After Kannada organisations in Belagavi decided to oppose the division of the district on Tuesday, there were protests favouring and opposing the move on Wednesday.
Chikkodi District Horata Samiti members called for a Chikkodi bandh seeking the creation of a new district. Bailhongal saw a protest against division, but with a rider. They want a new Bailhongal district or they don’t want the division. They will be happy in an undivided Belagavi district, they said.
On Tuesday, activist Patil Puttappa and Sri Siddarama Swami of Nagnur Rudrakshi Mutt opposed the division and hoped for the equal development of all taluks in the district.
Buses, lorries and even private vehicles did not operate in Bailhongal. Shops, offices and schools and colleges were closed.
A meeting of activists at the Moorusavir Shaka Mutt decided to urge the government not to divide the district. If it has to be divided, then Bailhongal should become the headquarters of the new district, they resolved. They felt that it was natural for Bailhongal to become the new district headquarters as it was the revenue subdivision headquarters already.
A procession began from the mutt and ended at the Assistant Commissioner’s office. They submitted a memorandum at the Assistant Commissioner’s office and dispersed. Prabhu Neelkanth Swami, Sri Basavalinga Swamy and Sri Madiwaleshwar Swamy addressed the protesters.
MLA Vishwanath Patil, zilla horata samiti leader Shivaranjan Bolannanavar and other leaders, including Mahantesh Koujalagi and Jagadish Metgud, were present.
Meanwhile, the Chikkodi bandh, seeking the division of the district and formation of a new Chikkodi district, was a total success. Protesters walked from the bus stand and gathered at the Basaveshwar Circle to listen to leaders. The leaders said that the division was pending since 1997, when the State government announced the formation of nine new districts. Chikkodi district was not formed even in 2007 when Yadgir was carved out of Kalaburagi. “But now we should not relent. We should force the government to form the new district,” they said. Horata Samiti leaders B.R. Sangappagol Kashinath Kurne and Sanjiv Badiger and local mutt seers spoke. They walked to the tahsildar office and submitted a memorandum.
