Date:30/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/30/stories/2008103055320600.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

CNC team leaves for Delhi

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: A contingent of 60 Kodava men and women in their traditional dress, led by Codava National Council President N.U. Nachappa Codava left for New Delhi on Wednesday to hold a “satyagraha” in the Capital on November 1 demanding declaration of a Kodava Autonomous Region for establishing a Kodava Land.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Nachappa said that the land should comprise 45 Kodava Naads (villages) in Kodagu district. Unless this was agreed to, he said that there was no meaning for celebrating Rajyotsava. He said that their demand should be referred to the Parliamentary standing committee looking into the Gorkha Land Bill and bring it back to Parliament for its passage.

He said that the ethno-linguistic identity of Kodavas could be maintained only by establishing an autonomous council for administering the 45 villages. A university in Kodagu district should be established and Kodava language accorded the status of an administrative language on par with Konkani. The Codavas should be exempted from Section of the Indian Arms Act.

Mr. Nachappa said that the council was trying to meet President Prathiba Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivaraj Patil for presenting memoranda on their demands.