Come what may, the State has to remain unified: CM

He snubs Umesh Katti for talking of separate NK state after losing power

December 19, 2014 06:00 pm | Updated 06:00 pm IST - BELAGAVI:

Sending a strong political message to those seeking separate North Karnataka State, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said, “Come what may, Karnataka will have to remain unified.”

Replying to a three-day debate in the Legislative Assembly on the issues related to development of North Karnataka, the Chief Minister observed that creating a separate State was not a solution to the backwardness of North Karnataka.

“We can achieve development only by staying together,” he said and sought to remind people that a large number of visionaries had worked hard to form the state of Karnataka by re-organising the Kannada-speaking areas.

“The efforts of those who fought for the formation of Karnataka state will go in vain if we failed to protect the unity of the state,” he said and appealed to people to strive for protecting the unity of the state “at any cost”.

Acknowledging that there were regional imbalances in terms of development, he declared that his government would give priority for removing such imbalances.

He asked political leaders and people to think of comprehensive development of the state rather than getting into the regional aspects.

Katti snubbed

The Chief Minister trained his guns on sugar baron and Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Umesh Katti, who had created a controversy by demanding a separate State of North Karnataka.

“Mr. Katti, you were a minister for a long time. But you never spoke of a separate state when you were in power. It is surprising that you are making such a demand now,” the Chief Minister said, while questioning his intentions behind making such a demand. He advised him to desist from making such a demand again.

Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa too snubbed Mr. Katti later when he complained of lack of industrialisation in North Karnataka. “Why not you yourself set up an industry in North Karnataka. After all you are a businessman hailing from this region,” the speaker remarked. Pointing out that the North Karnataka region has a large number of sugar factories which are doing well, he wondered what prevents them from setting up industries too.

Taking a cue from the speaker, the Chief Minister too remarked, “When people from the neighbouring state of Maharashtra are keen to set up industries in North Karnataka, why a local leader like should hesitate?”

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