Dec 11 to be observed as 'Black Day': Vatal Nagaraj

Mangalore, Nov 15 (UNI) Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj, MLA, today announced that December 11 would be observed as 'Black Day' by pro-Kannada organisations and Gadinada (border region) samitis throughout Karnataka against the Centre's ''step motherly attitude'' towards the State.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the agitation was also to protest the non-implementation of the Mahajan Commission recommendations on the vexed border issue with Maharashtra and the State Government's failure to pressurise the Centre on the issue.

Black flag demonstrations would be organised across the State on that day, he added.

Mr Nagaraj said that in the second stage of protest, demanding implementation of Mahajan Commission recommendations in toto and classical language status for Kannada, a dharna had been planned before Parliament with the support of other Kannada organisations.

In the third phase, the party would boycott Union Ministers' programmes in the State.

Celebrating Suvarna Karnataka was meaningless unless the problems of Kannadigas living along the border areas were solved, he added.

Mr Nagaraj demanded that the coalition Government in the State immediately convene a special session of the Legislature to discuss serious issues like border issue and integrated development of the bordering districts.

He said Committees, headed by himself and 'Mukhya Mantri' Chandru would submit their final report on the border issue to the Government within a month.

UNI MA GD SKB1850