Karnataka - Belgaum   

Kannada organisations fail to impress Datar committee

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELGAUM, OCT. 10. Kannada organisations and their representatives, who are concerned over a suit filed by Maharashtra in the Supreme Court seeking the declaration of the decision to include four districts in Karnataka under the Reorganisation of States Act as null and void, made a poor show before the Datar Committee, which was here on Sunday.

H.B. Datar, Supreme Court lawyer and a native of Athani in Belgaum district, who is heading the committee to defend Karnataka's case, was here to "listen" and obtain "additional information" on the status of Kannada in the border district of Belgaum to reply to a notice issued by the Supreme Court. But with none of the members present at the indoor meeting furnishing any information as required by Mr. Datar, it was the latter who spoke the most with the members of Kannada organisations only listening to him.

While drawing attention to Maharashtra's charge that Karnataka had committed atrocities on the Marathi-speaking population in the border areas, he wanted to know the role played by Kannada organisations and leaders in strengthening Kannada in the border areas. This question did not elicit any response, except for some members who said that some Marathi educational institutions had started Kannada-medium schools in the district.

Meeting

However, at the end of the meeting, Siddangouda Patil, former Mayor and veteran Kannanda activist, announced that he would host a meeting of all MPs in the State in Belgaum soon to urge them to pressure the Centre to defend the case. All MPs should meet the Prime Minister and the Union Law Minister under the leadership of the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, at the earliest, he said.

In the present case, Maharashtra has made the Union Government "Respondent No.1" and the State Government "Respondent No. 2."

Caution

A note of caution was sounded by Mr. Datar that any "fault" on the part of Karnataka or the Union Government would not be in the interest of Karnataka.

Interestingly, when some members sought copies of Maharashtra's suit, Mr. Datar said many of them would not follow what was written in the suit. However, a copy was made available to S.M. Kulkarni, a senior advocate in the city.

Senior Kannada activist S.V. Kulkarni, Ramsha Lokapur, Raghavendra Joshi, Basavaraj Jagjampi and Ashok Chandargi were present. The meeting was held at Lingraj College, which has been the centre for all struggles supporting the Kannada cause. Ironically, none of the 21 legislator and two MPs from the district were present at the meeting.

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Kannada organisations fail to impress Datar committee

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