Karnataka - Gulbarga   

Samiti to intensify agitation if Article 371 is not amended

By Our Special Correspondent

GULBARGA, FEB. 7. The President of the Hyderabad-Karnataka Horata Samiti and Janata Dal (Secular) MLA, Vaijnath Patil, today criticised the Centre and the State Government for "dillydallying" over the long-pending demand to amend Article 371 to provide special reservation in employment and education to the people of backward regions.

Demand

Addressing presspersons here along with the General Secretary of the samiti, Hanumanthrao Desai,, he demanded that the Article be amended during this Budget session. The agitation for Statehood to the Hyderabad-Karnataka region will be intensified if the Centre "fails" to amend the Article.

He criticised the Government for its "dilatory tactics" and shifting the blame on the Centre for the delay in amending the Article. Even eight months after the formation of governments at the Centre and the State, the demand has not been taken up. Mr. Patil said that he was not given an opportunity to move an adjournment motion in the last Assembly session over the delay in amending the Article. The Chief Minister, N, Dharam Singh, and the Union Home Minister, Shivaraj Patil, hail from backward regions and are aware that amendment to the Article is the only solution to imbalances in development.

Apprehension

On the apprehension of the Centre that if the Article is amended and Karnataka is included in the schedule there will be similar demands from other States, Mr. Patil said it is unfounded, and even if there is such a demand from other States, there is nothing wrong in it. He urged the Chief Minister to hold a meeting with the office-bearers of the samiti on the matter.

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