The Hyderabad Karnataka Horata Samiti (HKHS), which spearheaded the movement for amendment to Article 371(J) of the Constitution, has resorted to agitation once again, following the State government’s alleged failure to freeze the ongoing recruitment process in government departments.
“The government is forcing the people of the region to resort to agitation once again. It has shown indifference to the demand to stop recruitment in different government departments till the framing of rules for the implementation of Article 371 (J) and fixing of reservation are completed,” Vaijnath Patil, former Minister and president of the samiti, told presspersons here on Monday.
“The samiti will launch a ‘Bangalore chalo, recruitment roko’ agitation on February 13, and hold protests either at the Freedom Park or near Vidhana Soudha to draw the government’s attention to the need to freeze recruitments,” Mr. Patil said.
People from all districts in Hyderabad Karnataka Region will participate, Mr. Patil added. He warned that the agitation would be intensified if the recruitments were not stopped immediately.
Suspicion
Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar did not mention in the budget about formation of the Statutory Area Development Board as stipulated in the Article 371 (J); nor did he indicate that funds had been allocated for the proposed board.
This raises suspicions about the government’s commitment to implementing the provisions of Article 371(J), Mr. Patil said.
When asked about his future in politics, Mr Patil, who resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party a few months back, said that he was keeping his options open, and was still undecided on the matter.
He could join a political party to contest the elections from Gulbarga (South) or Sedam Assembly constituency, or fight as an Independent on behalf of the HKHS.
“A final decision on this matter will be taken after consulting the leaders and workers of the samiti,” Mr. Patil added.
