Seeking a Cabinet berth to their representative Basavaraj Horatti, members of private unaided eductional institutions and various teachers’ organisations have planned to hold a mega protest rally in Hubballi on June 23.
Addressing presspersons here along with other office-bearers Vishwanath Koravi, Basavaraj Dharwad, Shyam Mallanagoudar, Jagadish Dyavappanavar and N.B. Sangapur on Tuesday, convenor of the federation of teachers organisations N.B. Natu said that the agitation was to emphasise the need to give representation to Mr. Horatti in the Cabinet.
Mr. Natu said Mr. Horatti, who had been with Janata Dal (Secular) since decades, never switched sides despite offers from various political parties and had continuously worked for building the party in North Karnataka. “But despite his unchanged loyalty and contribution to the party and also to the field of education, he has been not been given ministership”, he said.
Elaborating on his contribution, Mr. Natu said during 2006-07 as Education Minister Mr. Horatti provided livelihood to 23,000 employees in the education sector who were working without any wages till then. Apart from this, Mr. Horatti was instrumental in bringing reforms in the field of education in the State.
Mr. Natu contended that although Mr. Horatti’s name figured in the list of probable Ministers, his name was dropped at the last minute without any reason. “Already we have begun a letter campaign seeking cabinet berth to Mr. Horatti. Teachers have also submitted memorandum to former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in this regard”, he said.
Office-bearers of different organisations said that by keeping Mr. Horatti out of the Cabinet, ‘injustice’ had been meted out to the teaching community.
