From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Belagavi, Jul 8: Training the guns on the private managements of Engineering and Medical Colleges in Karnataka, the Opposition BJP has accused the Consortium of Medical, Engineering, Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMED-K) for blatantly violating the reservation norms by denying 8 per cent of seats reserved in professional courses for students of Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
Initiating a debate on regional imbalances in the State and lack of development in north Karnataka, particularly in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region in the Legislative Assembly, BJP’s Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar on Wednesday demanded that the State Government should initiate action against COMED-K for denying seats for students of H-K region.
As per the rules framed under the Hyderabad Karnataka Regional Development Board, COMED-K has mandatorily set aside 8 per cent of seats in professional courses for students in H-K region.
But instead of giving seats for H-K region students, the former chief minister alleged that COMED-K granted seats to students of other regions.
“What action did you take against COMED-K for flouting the reservation of seats in professional colleges to the students of Hyderabad-Karnataka region?,’’Shettar asked.
He said the State Government has not shown interest to establish the University of Arts (Lalit Kala Vishwavidyalaya) at Badami.
Shettar said Rs 50 crore had been sanctioned for Mysore University for centenary celebrations of the University but no steps were being taken to establish the University of Fine A
Arts in Badami.
He wanted to know why the discrimination by the State Government among universities?
Shettar demanded allocation of Rs 100 crore for University of Arts.
Explaining the disparities between southern and northern districts in socio-economic development, the BJP leader said despite spending Rs 14,000 crore during the last eight years not much progress had achieved in north Karnataka.
He demanded evaluation report on the progress achieved in 114 backward taluks during the last eight years.