Karnataka - Belgaum   

Minister allays doubts over `second capital'

Staff Correspondent

Shashikant Naik to meet Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister soon

Belgaum: Minister for Horticulture and district-in-charge Shashikant A. Naik has sought to allay apprehensions over newspaper reports on according the status of "second capital" to Belgaum city. He said that he would try his best to ensure that the Government would not go back on its promise.

He was talking at a press conference here on Tuesday. There was confusion over the issue owing to reports in a section of the media, even as the Government had already committed to designate Belgaum as second capital during the legislature session held there last month.

To make plea

Mr. Naik said that he would meet Chief Minister H.D. Kmaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa in a day or two and try his best to impress upon them that any change in the decision would send a wrong signal to the people in north Karnataka.

On the confusion arising out of Mr. Yediyurappa making the announcement at a public function in the city on September 28 and Home Minister M.P. Prakash saying that there was no such proposal, Mr. Naik said he could not comment on that.

Announcement

If the Government retracted on its announcement, then he would discuss the issue with leaders and legislators of all the parties from the district to bring pressure on the Government, Mr. Naik said.

Mr. Naik did not reply when asked whether the Janata Dal (Secular)-BJP Government was not yielding to any political pressure from neighbouring districts, which were believed to be against making Belgaum second capital.

He also did not react when pointed out that the Revenue Minister Jagdish Shettar, who was Belgaum district in-charge Minister for a few months before Mr. Naik took over, had attributed the confusion to media reports instead of looking at the announcement made by the Government.

Kannada meet

Belgaum District Kannada Organisations Action Committee president Ashok Chandargi said that Mr. Prakash had opposed holding of the World Kannada Meet in Belgaum and wanted it to be held in Hampi.

The former Myor Siddangouda Patil was present at the press conference.

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