BS Yeddyurappa, Jagadish Shettar: Won't allow Karnataka division

Bengaluru: Even as ruling JD(S) and Congress leaders blamed the Opposition BJP for playing its role in reigniting the demand for a separate state of North Karnataka, state BJP top leaders asserted that they would not allow Karnataka to be divided at any cost.

Recently, the BJP had faced huge embarrassment after its leader and Molakalmuru MLA B. Sriramulu had supported the demand for statehood for North Karnataka which went viral in social media. The BJP state unit was forced to instruct Mr. Sriramulu to issue a clarification on his statement following which the former Ballari MP clarified that, he will not support the bandh called by various organizations of North Karnataka on August 2 demanding statehood.

“At any cost, we should not allow Karnataka to be divided, unification of Karnataka should be our mantra. It’s because of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s irresponsible statement that people have called for a bandh for a separate state. I will not support any such bandh. The chief minister blamed the voters of North Karnataka for not supporting  his party in the recent Assembly polls and even  accused them of taken money to cast votes for others. The CM with his utterances has committed a grave injustice against people of North Karnataka, he has also unnecessarily dragged my name into the controversy”, Mr. Sriramalu stated.

Meanwhile, BJP state President B.S.Yeddyurappa and former chief minister Jagadish Shettar issued a joint press statement, opposing the demand for a separate North Karnataka state. “Never before in the political history of Karnataka has any chief minister made such an irresponsible and arrogant statement  like what Mr Kumaraswamy has done. By saying that he will utilise the funds meant for Bengaluru for development of North Karnataka, the CM has divided the people of the state with his irresponsible statement”, Mr. Yeddyurappa and Mr Shettar remarked.

Mr. Yeddyurappa also said he will leave for Belagavi on Tuesday to dissuade the seers of various mathas and other leaders who are planning demonstrations for a separate North Karnataka state in front of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha. “ I will request the seers to remain committed to the concept of unified Karnataka. The people of North Karnataka are pained and hurt by the insensitive statement of the chief minister”, Mr Yeddyurappa said.