RAICHUR: Activists dejected over state government' ignorant attitude towards erstwhile Nizam ruled Hyderabad-Karnataka are conceiving the idea of separate statehood for the invigoration of much neglected six districts which is currently part of state of Karnataka. After the state in its last budget disproportionately side-lined HK region, general public and activists seem frustrated over repeated oblivion of six districts.
Razak Ustad, a noted activist who fought vociferously for granting special status of Article 371(J) has recently penned down an article in a popular local daily of HK voicing dissent sparking debate of separate statehood. Talking to The New Indian Express he said "there are 40 assembly constituencies in HK region and the Congress had won 21, while BJP and JD(S) have emerged victorious in 15 and 4 segments respectively." However, if one analyses the tally in the cabinet, southern Karnataka has 16 ministers, while HK received pittance with just two representatives.
And Mumbai-Karnataka was also secluded from representation, which also found two persons at the state-level. This mirrors neglect behaviour of the state government which has 16 ministers from the southern part. Unless HK region fight to be carved out from Karnataka, the plight of the people of this geography remain same. He further said since unification of the state, in diverse boards and authorities too, southern people have upper hand and the incumbent status also the same. "Had HK region found better representation in the state, the six districts - Kalaburagi, Raichur, Yadgir, Koppal, Bidar and Bellary would have fared well in various indicators," he opined. Look at indicators like health, education, agriculture, industry and others.
HK has whooping migration of people to metro cities as scope for career opportunities are very less. He added that only 2% of bureaucrats work in six districts and the money released under HKRDB and other programmes are unspent due massive shortage of staff to implement the social schemes. Anilkumar Beldar, general secretary of Hyderabad-Karnataka Horata Samiti from Bidar said article 371(J) was not implemented swiftly. The funds will be released under 371(J) for various activities; however, it is not being spent properly. Demanding separate statehood is the need of the hour. The idea is not fledgling. Till 2012 all six districts on November 1 were hoisting HK flag.
After the state convinced saying it would focus on development state flag is being hoisted on Kannada Rajyotsava. Making a valid point he said the chairman of HKRDB subcommittee was H K Patil and he does not hail from HK region. Now the new government has to appoint a person from HK region. The state has not filled the vacancies in the government departments and nor promoted officials of HK region as ruled in 371(J). The activists of HKHS two years back when went to Rajbhavan to meet Governor to deliberate over lukewarm implementation of 371(j), the activists were stopped and were detained. Also some faced charges for unlawful assembly.
Lakshman Dasti from Kalaburagi invoking the history said in 1953 when Fazal Ali commission was constituted by the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru the commission visited this region. At that time the commission asked "Why do you want to unite with Mysuru region as it is located at a faraway distance? Why can't you ask for a separate state?" Back then, the sane minds assumed that old Mysuru region which also speaks Kannada language would understand the pain of the people of this region. But that has been proved wrong. He said the old Mysuru region continue to dominate both political and developmental landscape of Karnataka. The state has failed implementing Nanjudappa committee report. It has not swiftly implementing 371(J).
The HK' four decades of long pending demand of separate railway division was not met and most of the irrigation projects are in limbo. And in bureaucracy also class 1 and class 2 positions which were supposed to be with HK people after 371(J) has not given. This is abject. It is old Mysuru region which is a reason to seed the idea of statehood in the minds of activists and general public, he rued.