Protest against opposition to statehood demand

By Our Special Correspondent

DHARWAD, JULY 8. Frayed tempers marked the meeting of writers and artists convened here on Friday to condemn the movement seeking a separate State for North Karnataka. There was a hectic discussion and two groups almost came to blows. Mr. Chennavira Kanavi, leading Kannada poet, had a hard time conducting the proceedings.

Several writers and artists such as Messrs. Kanavi, Siddalinga Pattanashetty, Ms. Hema Pattanashetty, Prof. K. Raghavendra Rao, N.H.Katageri, Shivashankar Hiremath, and Turmari, President of the Merchants' Association spoke. It was stated that injustice had been done to North Karnataka, but demanding separate statehood was not a solution. They appealed to people not to divide the State, which had been united after considerable struggle.

When Prof. Raghavendra Rao, former Professor of Political Science in Mangalore University, spoke about the problems faced by North Karnataka, some members protested stating that the speaker was only referring to problems and not providing solutions. The remarks by the organisers that the meeting was convened to condemn the demand for a separate State evoked further protest, and led to an exchange of angry words.

A section questioned the relevance of literature available and said that was the reason for their remaining aloof from the move to protest against the injustice meted out to North Karnataka. Some said the movement for separate statehood was being concluded in a listless manner, and that it was directionless and purposeless.

The protagonists for a separate State, mostly from the Bar association, made it clear it was necessary to seek separate statehood for bettering the lives of the people in the region. The first to have spoken in terms of a separate State, was none other than Mr. Patil Puttappa. Why were they being blamed for seeking separate statehood and why was it that everybody was tightlipped over the continuous injustice being meted out to the region, they asked.

Mr. Kanavi said Karnataka remaining united and quoted a poem of the late Kuvempu on the concept of a united Karnataka. Slogans in favour of Uttara Karnataka were raised at the end of the meeting.

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Section  : Southern States
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