Kalaburagi: The North Karnataka bandh call given by Uttara Karnataka Raitha Sangha elicited a poor response in Kalaburagi as well as in Hyderabad-Karnataka region which comprises of six districts.
The normal life remained unaffected as schools, colleges, offices and commercial establishments remained open. Buses and rickshaws along with other private vehicles plied on the road as usual.
However, members of few pro-Kannada outfits and other regional outfits staged protests - some in support and some are against the formation of separate state. One of the organisations sought a separate Kalyana Karnataka state comprising just six districts of H-K region.
Members of Kannada Sainya, Hyderabad Karnataka Horata Samiti, Karunada Horata Samithi, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and others staged symbolic protests in front of the Mini Vidhana Soudha and SVP Circle in the city.
Members of Karunada Horata Samithi staged a protest demanding separate North Karnataka state. They alleged that the region had been neglected and the people are struggling to lead their lives in the region.
They said that it was Chief Minister Kumaraswamy, who during his previous stint as CM had constructed Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi.
However, the members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike staged a protest against the division of Karnataka and the demand for separate North Karnataka state. They said that no one should attempt to divide Karnataka and everyone should strive for the development of ‘Akhanda’ Karnataka.
Karnataka has been unified after a span of 750 years. Hundreds of people have strived for this, they said. KRV’s district unit president Mahesh N and others took part.
Members of the Kannada Sainya demanded implementation of the Nanjundappa Committee report for development of the N-K region. Though the protesters called for a movement in this regard, they didn’t support the call for separate statehood. They sought second capital status to Kalaburagi.
Sainya founder Somanath L Kattimani and others took part in the protest.
Members of Kalyana Karnataka Pratyaka Rajya Horata Samiti, who demanded a separate Hyderabad Karnataka state comprising the six districts of the region, attempted to hoist a flag at SVP Circle here. But they were stopped and detained by police.
Samiti’s M S Patil Naribola and others took part in the protest. All the protesters were detained by police, who released them later.