Kodagu people to launch Vidhana Soudha chalo

Bangalore, July 16 (UNI) Elected representatives of Kodagu District, irrespective of their party affiliation, today threatened to launch 'Vidhana Soudha' chalo agitation if the Karnataka Government failed to withdraw two circulars issued to the effect of declining ownership of the land they owned.

Talking to newsmen here, former Minister M C Nanaiah alleged that despite convincing the Chief Minister and Revenue Minister many a time and directing the concerned officials to withdraw the circulars, the issue was still pending and there was no alternative left for the people of Kodagu but to resort to agitation.

He said the first axe fell on the Kodagu people when government issued a circular on Sepgtember Five 2004 according to which people who were cultivating the land were not the owners and entire Kodagu land belonged to the Forest department and in another circular issued on October 31 2006 the rights of the cultivators and owners of Plantation crop were also withdrawn.

Mr Nanaiah said: ''the State government wants all the benefits including revenue and water to the KRS but not allowing the people to live in peace. By snatching away the ownership of cultivated land, the State Government has forced us to raise voice for a separate 'Kodagu State' ''.

He alleged that despite directions by his predecessor N Dharam Singh, present Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar, Principal Secretary Jamadar was not allowing withdrawal of the Circulars.

Demanding suspension of Mr Jamadar for not abiding to the Cabinet decision and direction by the concerned Ministers, Mr Nanaiah alleged that "Mr Jamadar acting as the government and ignoring directions by the Chief Minister and Ministers. Such acts by officer brings bad name to the State Government and he should be suspended from the service." Former Opposition leader A K Subbaiah, who was also present, alleged that burocracy was acting on behalf of environmentalists who wanted to convert the entire Kodagu district into forest and collect money from foreign countries. "Environmentalist Ullas Karanth and his company are behind the scene", he added.

UNI