Stating that political apathy and negligence of North Karnataka (NK) region by the successive Governments has forced people to take to the streets, veteran writer, Chandrashekhar Patil said that it is time for the Government to change its attitude towards the region.
Participating in the interaction programme with the media before launching agitation for demanding justice for NK in Vijayapura on Wednesday, he described the agitation to be bigger than the Gokak movement launched in 1980s for primacy to Kannada.
Noting that every movement and agitation was propelled by an inspiration, the writer who is fondly known as Champa, said that non-implementation of D.M. Nanjundappa Committee Report on regional imbalance was the instigation for the agitation.
Mr. Patil said that it was condemnable that even after nearly fifteen years of submission of the Report, the successive Governments have failed to implement the recommendations of the report in letter and spirit.
“It is unfortunate but inevitable now for the people to take to the streets against the Government for demanding justice to this deprived region. All we are asking is for our right nothing else," he said.
Making it clear that he was vehemently against the bifurcation of the State, Mr. Patil said that complete implementation of Nanjundappa Committee Report would address all major issues of the NK region.
To a question, he said that in order to galvanize support and spread the message, two workshops would be held in Dharwad and Kalaburagi in next two months.
On the occasion, a handbook written by retired profession of economy, N.G. Chachadi, titled ‘Nanjundappa report, its status after a decade and development policy of the future’, was released.
The book gives statistical details by referring to Nanjundappa Committee Report on how NK region has remained backward on socio-economic fronts compared to South Karnataka Region.
Later, the agitation was launched from the city which would culminate at Raichur on June 28.
Congress MLA, A. S. Patil Nadahalli, Aland MLA, B. R. Patil, writer, Kum. Veerabhadrappa, veteran activists, Vaijanath Patil, Basavaraj Ingin and several prominent activists of various fields were present.
