Kodagu to boycott Karnataka Rajyotsava

Madikeri, Oct 17: The Kodagu Existence Committee has called for a Kodagu bandh on November one, the state's formation day, to protest against government apathy in developing the hilly district.

In a meeting held under the leadership of Dada Belliappa of Bangalore Kodava Samaj and Vasu of Gowda Samaj here today, the leaders unanimously decided to boycott Rajyotsava and register their protest.

The meeting was called mainly to discuss about the governments 'failed' assurance to withdraw two circulars denying right over Jamma lands to its holders. Leaders lambasted that the former Chief Minister had assured to recall the circulars in the cabinet and it was not implemented.

The speakers said that they were not demanding separate state, but the apathy in taking up developmental works and negligence towards Kodagu district was leading the situations towards it, they said.

Former minister M C Nanaiah regretted that the Chief Ministers order carried no value. He said that November one would be observed as a black day. He also stated that the government should not implement greater Cauvery project which will harm the society.

MLA K G Bopaiah said that officials were harassing people and such officials should be removed from the district. "The jamma problem cannot be solved as long as the Revenue Secretary Jamdar continued in his post," he said.

Most of the land held by the people of Kodagu known for its coffee estates and orange orchards is actually belongs to the government and the people of the districts have been on an agitational path demanding the government to transfer the land to their names over the decades. UNI