From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Belagavi, Dec 27: Prominent Raitha Sangha leaders from six districts of Belagavi, Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag, Bagalkot and Karwar coming under the Kittur Karnataka region joined the Congress party at the Congress Bhavan in Belagavi on Tuesday.

Former Dharwad Rural Constituency MLA Shivananda Ambadagatti also joined the party in the presence of KPCC Chief D K Shivakumar, Congress Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and other senior party leaders.

The farmers’ association leaders who joined the patty are: Shivananda Holehadagali, Bailappa Dalavayi, Siddanna Kambara, Bishtappa Shinde, Madivalappa,Varagannavaraa, Kallappa Kugati, Kalagouda Patil, Mahantesh Raut, Ningappa Nandi, Neelakanta Neerolli, Nagaiah Poojar and Bheemanna Kasayi.

The KPCC chief visited the advocates protesting in front of Belagavi Suvarna Soudha to press for their demands under the banner of Karnataka Advocates Parishat and other associations and promised to take up their demands in the assembly.

Belagavi Border issue is BJP ploy

Speaking to media persons, Shivakumar alleged that the ruling BJP was raking up the border issue in Belagavi with a view to create unrest and divert public attention from its failures and corruption scandals.

Responding to questions, he said the Congress party strongly opposes Maharashtra assembly resolution demanding that Karnataka’s villages must be included and made it clear that the party firmly believes that the border issue is a settled matter after the reorganisation of states.

“We don’t want any villages of Maharashtra and not willing to part with any of Karnataka’s villages. The borders demarcation is final,” he declared.

The KPCC Chief said the ruling BJP was raking up the border issue ahead of the assembly elections to divert public attention from its scams and failures and create unrest to take political advantage of the situation.