Tempers ran high on Republic Day in several parts of Hyderabad-Karantaka region as protests were staged in several places, demanding amendment of article 371 of the Constitution.
Tempers ran high on Republic Day in several parts of Hyderabad-Karantaka region as protests were staged in several places, demanding amendment of article 371 of the Constitution to provide special status to five districts of the region.
In Gulbarga and Bidar, the protesters vented their ire at people’s representatives, accusing them of betraying the cause of the local populace. A bandh was observed in the five districts of the region—Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal and Yadgir—demanding the amendment. The protesters shouted slogans against Bidar MP, Dharam Singh.
An angry Dharam Singh blamed the state government for failing to get the special status for the region.
He accused chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda and his predecessor BS Yeddyurappa of not doing anything to make the Union government fulfil its assurance of amending article 371.
He also accused the earlier NDA government of ignoring the legitimate demand of the backward region, comprising Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal and Yadgir districts.
Dharam Singh threatened to resign from the Lok Sabha if the state government failed to press the Centre to fulfil the demand.
He assured that the Congress MPs from the state had already demanded that the UPA government take a speedy decision in this regard.
The state cabinet, too, discussed the issue recently and decided to press the Centre again. The chief minister will soon lead a delegation to Delhi to press the Union government to accord special status to the region. Amending article 371 will enable the state government to provide region-based reservation for the people of the region in jobs. It will also entitle the region to get special grants for speedy development.
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