North Karnataka to observe bandh on August 2 for separate statehood

TNN
July 26, 2018

Bengaluru/Hubballi, Jul 26: After a long lull, the clamour in North Karnataka for separate statehood has gained momentum once again.

A forum comprising various farmers and student organisations has called for a bandh on August 2 demanding separate statehood for North Karnataka. “The bandh will be in all 13 districts of North Karnataka,’’ forum leader Somashekhar Kotambari said in Hubballi on Wednesday.

CM HD Kumaraswamy’s alleged discrimination in the budget towards the region and his recent remarks against North Karnataka leaders are believed to have triggered this agitation, with the veiled backing of some BJP and Congress leaders, sources said.

The forum called Uttara Karnataka Pratyeka Rajya Horata Samiti (North Karnataka Separate Statehood Protest Committee) has planned a rally at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi where several North Karnataka leaders will address the gathering.

Kotambari said North Karnataka has been given stepmotherly treatment by all political parties for seven decades and governments have not developed the region. “Though the region is rich in natural resources, problems like unemployment are unsolved. As governments neglected the recommendations of the Nanjundappa Committee report, the region has been suffering from poverty,” he added.

He said though the government, in 2006, took the initiative to build the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi to focus on overall development of North Karnataka, it has not yielded results. “Suvarna Vidhana Soudha is a white elephant with no government office located there,” he added.

Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha president Basavaraj Karigar said major irrigation projects have been initiated in South Karnataka, while North Karnataka has been struggling to get the Mahadayi project up and running for years.

“The Krishna river benefits are not yet available for farmers. All development work is concentrated in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Ramanagara, Hassan, Mandya and other districts,” he alleged. At a rally last week in his home constituency Channapatna, Kumaraswamy took a dig at BJP leaders for demanding separate statehood during the recent budget session.

Comments

Ramprasad
 - 
Thursday, 26 Jul 2018

Protesters argumenting with contrasting statements. They claimed that the area rich in natural resources and at the same time they uttered about water scarcity. If north karnataka rich in natural resources, then political parties might have been utilised long back before. That shows the area not rich in natural resources. Water scarcity is there

Rahul
 - 
Thursday, 26 Jul 2018

In a glance, seperate statehood will be better for administration but still it will raise more complications in future

Ibrahim
 - 
Thursday, 26 Jul 2018

Similar in Kasaragod. Its part of Kerala but political parties are ignoring that district. But Kasaragod cant demand seperate state tag. Either it should be a part of Karnataka or remain same as a part of Kerala. 

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News Network
July 3,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 3: Karnataka Health Department on Thursday permitted District Health Departments to appoint doctors with MBBS, on a contractual basis with permission of concerned District Health Officers and Commissioners, a statement said.

The state government has also hiked the salary of contractual doctors from Rs 45000 to Rs 60000 per month.

Earlier in the day, Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu urged contract doctors to continue offering their services amid their demand for regularisation of services.

"I request the contract doctors with folded hands to continue offering their services. With regard to their two demands, one of salary hike and the other being permanency, I assure all of them that I stand with them and their requests will definitely be fulfilled," said Mr Sriramulu.

The Chief Minister had also discussed about the two issues yesterday and agreed to facilitate the pay hike, he added.

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News Network
January 10,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 10: Barely 24 hours after the standoff between BJP workers and students of Jyoti Nivas College (JNC) in Bengaluru over CAA became breaking news, it took political hues with the saffron party and the Congress locking horns over the issue.

Taking the battle to the anti-CAA camp on Thursday, the BJP aggressively defended its party workers, who on Wednesday erected a pro-CAA banner on the college compound wall and allegedly forced students to sign on it as a mark of support.

With one of the workers who had locked horns with JNC students by his side, deputy chief minister CN Ashwath Narayan, at his official residence, questioned students’ right to protest party cadre erecting a pro-CAA banner on their college compound wall.

“How can you tell people not to create awareness about a law that has been passed in this country? Who gave students the right to question political workers? If there was anything wrong, let them report to the police,” retorted the minister, who also holds the higher education department portfolio.

On the other hand, the Congress, cashing in on simmering anger over the assault on JNU students in Delhi, used the JNC standoff to project the ruling party as prime culprits in stifling the voice of students. BTM Layout MLA and seasoned politician R Ramalinga Reddy even warned the BJP against “allowing JNC to become another JNU”.

Reddy met with the JNC administration and extended his support against any “threats” to students. It is being alleged that Reddy was the first to “leak” the video of Wednesday’s row to the media. The college falls in his assembly constituency.

Taking a cue from his colleague’s stand, former CM and opposition leader Siddaramaiah also leaned into the matter and sent a strong message “backing” students in the standoff. “BJP goons are threatening students of Jyotinivas College to support CAA. MrYediyurappa, I am strictly warning you to control hooligans from your party. Don't subvert knowledge & institutions for your selfish motives. We won't let Ktaka to be victim of your Hitler rule!” said Siddaramaiah in a tweet.

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News Network
July 30,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 30: As the protest by Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers entered the 20th day, Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Wednesday assured them that he would take up their demands with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.

The ASHA workers are sitting in protests with a number of demands that include a minimum salary of Rs 12,000 per month.

Assuring that their matter will be taken up, Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu said while speaking to reporters, "We know how hard ASHA workers have been working as frontline warriors in the fight against COVID-19. I will discuss with CM about their demand for a minimum wage of Rs 12,000 per month and the final decision will be taken soon."

"We went to the police to allow us to protest. Officials then took us to the CM. During the meeting, he demanded some time to sort out our issues. 

We told him we are protesting for the past 20 days and that it was he who needs to call a meeting with us. Only then will he know the problems being faced by ASHA workers," an ASHA worker said clad in her signature pink sari.

"When asked as to why salaries of ASHA workers were not hiked, while it was done for doctors and other healthcare officials, the CM requested for time to look into the matter. 

We are not much happy now, but will if he comes in front of the media and promises to sort out our issues, then we will listen to him", she added.

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