Border Kannadigas Waiting for More than Six Months for CM's Appointment

Several representatives of various Kannada organizations from Maharashtra and Telangana have been desperately trying for an appointment with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ever since he took over the reins of the state more than six months back but to no avail. Thanks to their patience, they haven't given up hope on the same and continue to keep trying in vain.

Attempts with every CM: It is not that they are approaching the state chief minister for the first time. They have been doing so for several decades to highlight their plight in the border areas of the adjoining states, but all their efforts have yet to bear fruit in the desired manner.

Efforts go in vain: According to Anil Potdar, a staunch Kannada protagonist belonging to Umadi of Jath Taluka in Sangli district, the earlier efforts with Basavaraj Bommai, the previous BJP chief minister were quite encouraging. The latter had directed the concerned officials to look into the various demands made by the Border Kannadiga Associations. It was paying off well but for the debacle of the BJP in the general elections. In this way, all earlier attempts went down the drain.

Memorandum at Sangli: The incumbent Siddaramaiah was also presented with a memorandum in Sangli wherein a felicitation program was held on behalf of the Congress party after he took over as the sitting chief minister. Anil Potdar recalls: The very next day, soon after returning to Bengaluru, the CM directed the chief secretary to initiate action over the memorandum. It has been more than six months and in between even the previous chief secretary Ms Vandita Sharma also retired. However, the efforts to meet the CM and apprise him about the undue delay have not been materialized yet.

Pleading for Two per cent reservation: Kune Balaraj, President of Kannada Teachers Association of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh asserts: We have been requesting for Two per cent reservation in higher education and employment but we are being deprived of the same. A letter has also been written to the chief minister way back in August seeking an appointment to meet under the leadership of eminent Kannada writer Baraguru Ramachandrappa. So far, neither has there been any response nor follow-up on the matter.

Five per cent grace to rural candidates: Thanks to former chief minister JH Patel, says Kune Balaraj, a provision of five per cent in state government jobs was made for those having done their schooling in Kannada medium in rural areas. But over a while, this five per cent grace or 'Grameen Krupaanka' system fizzled out depriving the desired benefits to the rural aspirants. A good lot of protests have taken place to press the demands but they have not made any sense in reality.

We are real Kannadigas: Rajendra Gurubasappa Biradar, President of Jath Taluk Kannada Shikshaka Balaga laments: We are the real Kannadigas despite residing in the neighbouring Maharashtra state as we are wholly dependent upon Kannada in our day to day activities. Ashok Chandargi, a journalist turned Kannada activist and leader of Belagavi had arranged for a meeting of representatives of Border area Kannada organizations with the previous chief minister Basavaraj Bommai during the legislature session. The CM listened to our grievances for about 15 minutes and issued necessary instructions to the concerned officials. A ray of hope arose then, but in the meantime, the government fell and once again all efforts were to start from the beginning.

CM meets the PM: On the other hand, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was continuously complaining against the PMO for not permitting to meet the PM to put forth the legitimate demands of the state, including financial assistance to tackle the severe drought situation. However, he happened to meet the PM on Tuesday and submit a memorandum in this regard. But paradoxically his own office is dillydallying with the Border Kannadiga organizations in giving them an appointment to meet. In public life, it is so easy to make accusations against others, particularly political adversaries. At the same time ensuring that the same complaints don't crop up is not all that easy to adhere to.

-Manohar Yadavatti

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