CM tries to soothe agitated North Karnataka citizens

Team Udayavani, Aug 2, 2018, 11:41 AM IST

Bengaluru: As the demand for a separate north Karnataka state resurfaced, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the state government was mulling shifting some government offices to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in the region.

“There are two Upa Lokayukta’s in the state.I have plans to shift one Upa Lokayukta to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.Then there are about five or six RTI commissioners. Among them I plan to shift three to northern districts- one to Kalaburagi and other two to Belagavi Suvarna Vidhana Soudha,”he said.

Plans are on to shift several offices, including the ‘Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam’, to northern districts, hesaid.

Kumaraswamy said he had already made plans to shift some offices from Bengaluru and to ensure that the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi functions all round the year actively.

As the demand for a separate state has snow balled into a political slug fest between the ruling coalition, especially 

Seeking time to address issues faced by the region, the Chief Minister said he wants industries to come up in north Karnataka and urged that he be given at least one year’s time, ‘without any disturbance,’ to carry out various works.

“I’m ready to work for 24 hours. I will not sit quiet,” he claimed.

Kumaraswamy said he had spent most of his time since assuming office on the farm loan waiver issue and assured that he would devote two days each in north Karnataka districts after 10 to 15 days.

“As I have waived Rs 49,000 crore farm loans, BJP is unable to digest it. They want some issue for the parliament election and are hence raising this issue,” he said 

Telling representatives who met him that it was noteasy to create a separate state as people would not accept it, Kumaraswamy also blamed public representatives from the regionfor the current state of north Karnataka.

Kumarawswamy also rejected the charge that his budget concentrated only on certain districts of south Karnataka.

Speaking to reporters after the the meeting, ‘Uttara Karnataka Pratyeka Rajya Horata Samiti President Somashekar Kotambari said that the Chief Minister has expressed his commitment to solve issues of the north Karnataka.

On the August 2 bandh, he said a decision would betaken only after discussion with other outfits that hadsupported the call.