Date:18/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/18/stories/2006101810540400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Statewide stir planned

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday announced a Statewide agitation on a nine-point charter of demands, for a month from November 1. The agitation was in protest against what he termed the Government's failure to maintain communal harmony, the poor utilisation of Central funds for drought relief measures and poverty alleviation programmes, corruption, the increasing crime rate and bias against some districts in development activities.

Mr. Kharge told presspersons here that the agitation would be launched at the block and district levels. He charged the coalition government with giving covert support to the Sangh Parivar in organising the Shoba Yatra at Bababudangiri.

Mr. Kharge admitted into the party Anasuya Ramaiah, wife of the late Kunigal MLA, Y.K. Ramaiah, along with her supporters.