Karnataka - Belgaum   

Patriotic songs precede speeches

Special Correspondent

BELGAUM: The singing of patriotic songs by a group of students from the reputed Music Department of Dharwad University preceded Governor T.N. Chaturvedi's address to legislators attending a special session of the legislature in Belgaum.

The Governor arrived at 11 a.m. and was welcomed by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Speaker Krishna and the officiating Chairman of the Legislative Council Sachidanand Khot.

A folk troupe led by Basavalingaiah Hiremath sang a patriotic song to highlight the role played by Kittur Rani Chennamma and Sangolli Rayanna during the freedom struggle in Belgaum.

In their speeches, Mr. Kumaraswamy, Mr. Yediyurappa, the Speaker, Leaders of the Opposition in the Assembly and Council N. Dharam Singh and H.K. Patil respectively and Minister for Higher Education D.H. Shankaramurthy recalled the contributions of seers, poets, philosophers, writers, warriors, politicians, educationists, musicians and other artistes who had contributed to the cultural richness of Belgaum and the State. They made special mention of the contribution of Rani Kittur Chennamma, Rani Belawadi Mallavva, Sangolli Rayanna, Kumar Gandharva and Chandrashekar Kambar.

Gandhiji's visit recalled

The leaders also recalled the visit of Mahatma Gandhi to Belgaum in 1924 when he presided over an All-India Congress Session, which provided impetus to the freedom movement in this part of the State.

As a gesture of goodwill, the Government presented an idol of Ganesh made out of Rudraksha and a plaque to the Governor.

Protest

Not unexpectedly, Vatal Nagaraj of the Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha staged a walkout as soon as the Governor began his speech in Kannada. Mr. Nagaraj's contention was that Kannada had received "stepmotherly" treatment and the session was convened for the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party to gain unfair political mileage.

The session had not helped in addressing the border dispute and the problems faced by the districts of north Karnataka, he alleged.

The two MES MLAs, Manohar Kinekar and Digamber Patil, also registered their protest. They were dressed in black with black masks to signify that they had been denied the freedom of expression.

They displayed banners saying "Stop threatening Marathi people like second rate citizens" and "Mahajan Report rejected by the Marathi people and the Central Government." At the end of the Governor's speech, they staged a walkout.

Several members absent

Several members did not attend the Governor's address and notable among them were Jayaprakash Hegde (independent), the former Minister P.G.R. Sindhia and Minister for Wakf Zameer Ahmed. While Mr. Sindhia is on a visit to the U.S., Mr. Ahmed has gone on Haj pilgrimage.

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