Belgaum issue: Pro-Kannada organisations call for Karnataka Bandh

Bangalore, Oct 2 (UNI) Various pro-Kannada organisations have called for a state-wide bandh on October four in protest against what they allege as step-motherly attitude of the UPA government against the state in the long standing border row with Maharashtra.

Legislator and Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj who leads the organisations told reporters here today that the bandh would be observed in a peaceful manner in all corners of the state.

This was in protest against the attitude of Maharashtra which was raking up the border issue that was settled by the Mahajan Commission four decades ago, he said.

''The union government is always biased against Karnataka whether it be the boundary or water dispute, flood relief or the development work to be taken up in the state. It had succumbed to the pressure of Maharashtra government while Home Minister Shivraj Patil acted in a partisan manner. We will protest against all this and ensure that such evil designs are defeated,'' he said.

Mr Nagaraj said the state would come to a standstill as all services except milk supply, hospitals, medical stores, would be unavailable. There had been an all round support for the bandh call which was backed by over 600 organisations, he added.

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