Date:02/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/02/stories/2007110255070600.htm

Karnataka

Samiti hoists ‘statehood flag’

Staff Correspondent

BIDAR: Members of the Hyderabad-Karnataka Horata Samiti here on Thursday hoisted a “statehood flag’ at Ambedkar Circle here.

The members demanded that statehood be granted for the districts of Hyderabad-Karnataka region comprising Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur and Koppal.

Speaking after hoisting the flag, a former principal, Devendra Kamal, said that the State Government had not shown interest in exerting pressure on the Union Government to get Article 371 amended.

He dubbed the attempts of the political leaders as an “eye wash”. Except, MLA Vyjnath Patil, representing Chincholi Assembly constituency in Gulbarga, none have cared to get Article 371 amended.

After reorganisation of the States, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have benefited from Article 371 but Karnataka has lagged behind, he said.

Bidar district has been tagged backward and the amendment to Article 371 and its implementation would be of great help in improving the quality of education, he said.

He said that the samiti was demanding statehood for Hyderabad-Karnataka region now as its demand for an amendment to Article 371 had not been fulfilled.