The Hindu : Karnataka News : Address vexed issues in various regions: CPI (M)

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Friday, Nov 02, 2007
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Karnataka

Address vexed issues in various regions: CPI (M)

Staff Correspondent

Party has cautioned the Government not
to neglect the problems of the people

MYSORE: Regretting the Kodagu Astitva Horata Samiti calling for Kodagu bandh and people of Hyderabad Karnataka observing a “black day” on Thursday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) here on Thursday urged the Government to address the issues troubling both the regions on priority.

The party also cautioned that delay in addressing the issues would further strengthen the demand of both the regions, which are seeking statehood on the grounds of regional imbalance.

Holding successive governments and the senior bureaucrats of the present government responsible for Kodagu Astitva Horata Samiti calling Kodagu bandh and the people of Hyderabad Karnataka region observing “black day” on Kannada Rajyotsava, State secretary of CPI (M) G.N. Nagaraj said the Kodagu Astitva Horata Samiti was forced to call for Kodagu bandh to protest against the State Government’s failure to address the long pending “Bane” land issue.

The Government withdrew circulars issued by Revenue Department and refused to withdraw a circular issued by the Forest Department even after an assurance from the former Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy, on the floor of the House in July.

The Government also formed two committees to study and submit a report on the issue for taking a final decision.

However, despite the Government withdrawing two circulars issued by the Revenue Department, the Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu was refusing to issue Coffee Registration Certificate and because of this, coffee growers were facing problems, Mr. Nagaraj said.

Holding bureaucrats under President’s Rule for complicating the issue, he said that withdrawing circulars issued by the Revenue Department had not helped the growers in any manner.

Urging the authorities concerned to take steps to address the issue, he said that apathy of bureaucrats indicated the urgent necessary of installing a democratically elected government in the State. Regretting the people of Hyderabad Karnataka observing a “black day,” Mr. Nagaraj said that, successive governments had failed in addressing the issue of regional imbalance and failed to implement the Nanjundappa Committee Report.

Because of political reasons the Hyderabad Karnataka region suffered, and southern part of the State, especially regions represented by the former Chief Minister and the former Deputy Chief Minister got a lion’s share of development projects, he observed.

Though the number of workers was more in Hyderabad Karnataka region and they were getting low wages, the Employment Guarantee Scheme was being sanctioned to developed districts such as Hassan, Shimoga, Kodagu and Chikmagalur and it was denied to the most backward areas such as Gulbarga and Raichur, he regretted.

It was necessary for political parties and bureaucrats to understand the seriousness of the issue and address the anomalies on priority, or else the people would revive their demand for Statehood, he cautioned.

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