Stating that political apathy and negligence of North Karnataka by successive governments in the State have forced the people in the region to take to the streets, writer Chandrashekhar Patil has said that it was time the government changed its attitude.
Participating in an interaction programme with the media before launching an agitation seeking justice to the region here on Wednesday, he said that this agitation would be bigger than the Gokak movement launched in the 1980s seeking primacy for Kannada.
Noting that every movement and agitation had been propelled by an inspiration or instigation, the writer, who is known as Champa, said that the non-implementation of D.M. Nanjundappa Committee report on regional imbalance was the instigation for this one.
Mr. Champa said that it was condemnable that even nearly 15 years after the report was submitted, successive governments had failed to implement the recommendations in letter and spirit.
“It is unfortunate, but at the same time it is now inevitable for the people to take to the streets against the powers that be seeking justice for a deprived region. All we are asking is for our rights and nothing else,” he said.
Against bifurcation
Making it clear that he was against bifurcation of the State, Mr. Champa said that the complete implementation of the Nanjundappa Committee report would address all major issues being faced by the region.
To a question, he said that to galvanise support and spread the message, two workshops would be held in Dharwad and Kalaburagi in the next two months.
On the occasion, a handbook written by retired professor 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 the Nanjundappa Committee report on how the region has remained backward on the socio-economic front compared to South Karnataka.
Later, the agitation, “Either justice or statehood”, was launched. It would culminate in Raichur city on June 28.
Congress MLA A.S. Patil Nadahalli, Aland MLA B.R. Patil, writer Kum. Veerabhadrappa, and political leaders Vaijnath Patil and Basavaraj Ingin were present.
