Ajit Singh urges Govt to develop H-K region

Gulbarga, May 28 (UNI) Former Union Minister Ajit Singh today urged the Government to develop the Hyderabad-Karnataka region by amending Article 371 of the Constitution.

Addressing a public meeting here, organised by the Hyderabad- Karnataka Horatta Samithi, he pointed out that Bodoland in Assam, Goorkha land in West Bengal, Marathwada in Maharashtra and Telangana in Andhra Pradesh were being developed by amending Article 371 as it bestowed special provisions to develop the under-developed areas.

Blaming the Government for neglecting the H-K region, Mr Singh said ''injustice is being meted out to this region and it's high time the Government takes steps to develop the areas.'' He deplored that though four Ministers represented the district, there was acute drinking water scarcity in the area. Besides, farmers' suicides in Karnataka reflected the ''indifferent'' attitude of the successive Governments.

Speaking on the occasion, former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah noted that the Dr Nanjundappa Committee, set up by the Government to conduct a survey of 'most backward areas', in its report had named 39 areas, all in the H-K region.

He appealed to the State Government to mount pressure on the Centre to amend Article 371 and develop the region.

While the MPs of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh were putting forth their cases in Parliament on the Cauvery and Krishna river water issues, the Karnataka MPs were lethargic, he alleged.

Later, Mr Singh released an audio cassette of songs, highlighting the injustice, imbalance and backwardness of the region.

UNI