Karnataka   

Karnataka seeks special status for backward regions

Staff Correspondent

A delegation to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

CHALLAKERE (CHITRADURGA DIST.): A delegation from Karnataka would call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding special facilities to backward regions of the State on the lines of Telangana in Andhra Pradesh by amending Article 371 of the Constitution, Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh has said.

Addressing a rally of party workers at Challakere here on Sunday, Mr. Dharam Singh made it clear that the naxalite problem can be tackled through socio-economic development of the naxal-prone regions.

"I understand the problems of underdeveloped areas such as Hyderabad Karnataka. We are seeking special status under Article 371 for the region. That facility can be extended to areas such as Chitradurga also. A delegation will go meet Dr. Singh in this regard," he said.

"I do not believe in violence. There are around 2,000 families in the forests, who need to be rehabilitated. We are looking into the problem to try put an end to blood shed. A meeting of Chief Ministers has been called by the Union Home Minister on September 19," Mr. Dharam Singh said. Contradicting the claims of the Janata Dal (Secular) about giving Scheduled Tribe tag to Nayaka community, Mr. Dharam Singh categorically said that such a relief was granted by the P.V. Narasimha Rao Government.

The leaders of the Janata Dal (S) had claimed that the party president H.D. Deve Gowda had suggested the then Prime Minister Chandrashekar to include Nayaka community in the Scheduled Tribe list.

He said he will initiate action on the recommendations of the report on regional imbalance. He also promised to construct special colonies for porters in Chitradurga district.

Addressing the rally, N.Y. Hanumanthappa, MP, urged the Chief Minister to take up Upper Bhadra Project, which will solve the water woes of Chitradurga district. He also offered a suggestion to bring water from the Tungabhadra reservoir to Molakalmuru and Challakere taluks.

He drew the attention of the Government to irregular power supply in rural areas. Former Minister C.K. Jaffer Sheriff and Union Minister of State for Planning M.V. Rajashekaran stressed the need for strengthening the party through conventions.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Karnataka seeks special status for backward regions
Road to Kukke Subrahmanya
Stuck on the highway
Time to celebrate
Sprucing up for D-day
Briefly

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu