The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) has stirred up controversy by demanding for a separate State for north Karnataka comprising the thirteen northern districts. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, KRRS State president Chamarasa Malipatil justified that statehood would not only help the region's all-round progress, but also facilitate better governance.
“We don't want to divide Karnataka, but we are left with no option as the region has been neglected for the last 60 years and there is no reason to believe that the approach would change in the near future. Northern districts continue to be backward on all counts - education, economy, infrastructure, human index and others - even almost 58 years after the unification of Karnataka while the southern and coastal districts could achieve remarkable development. The successive governments, irrespective of parties that led them, are largely responsible for the uneven development of the State. Nobody has genuine concern about the development of the region. How long can the people of north Karnataka silently tolerate the injustice and exploitation?” he questioned.
