From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 1: With people in the 13 districts of Northern Karnataka bracing for a ‘Uttara Karnataka Bandh’ on August 2, Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy has avowed to ensure that the JD(S)-Congress coalition government headed by him was always committed to protect the interests of a United Karnataka.

Kumaraswamy on Tuesday categorically stated that the coalition government headed by him would oppose any attempt by groups or parties to divide it for political gains.

The chief minister blamed the opposition BJP for the sudden demand for a separate north Karnataka state, saying that the party was fuelling the demand for electoral gains in 2019.

The chief minister held a meeting with leaders from north Karnataka and promised to visit all 13 districts in the next month or two.

He also promised to the delegation on shifting offices of some of the government departments and boards/corporations to the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi to take the administration to the doorsteps of the people.

In fact, the first session of the State legislature was held in Belagavi during Kumaraswamy’s tenure in 2007.

He stated that he had visited 27 times to north Karnataka region during his 20-month tenure as the Chief Minister in 2006-07.

Kumaraswamy said the loan waiver scheme would benefit a large number of farmers of the region.

The State government would not discriminate one region against the other in the State, the Chief Minister said.

Already Rs 500 crore has been set aside in his budget for development of cluster-based industries in the north Karnataka region, he said.