Separate state no solution for north Karnataka, says Yeddyurappa

Shivamogga: Criticising the growing demand for a separate statehood to North Karnataka, BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa said such a demand will not lead to any solution. He suggested that the present Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government should work towards the development of the state instead.

The demand for separate statehood came after several leaders accused the state government of having done injustice to North Karnataka in its state budget.

The state government should issue a white paper on the internal status of the state. People need to understand the situation of the state. This can explain the last government's rule," Yeddyurappa said.

"There is no consensus on the separate state demand. Nobody should talk about a separate state. If there is no development then fight and work for the development of Karnataka. A separate state is not a solution. It is wrong if any party claims it," he added.

Earlier, senior Congress leader H K Patil wrote a letter to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy criticising the state budget.

In the letter, Patil accused the Chief Minister of ignoring the minorities in the budget.

Patil, a former minister from north Karnataka, also urged Kumaraswamy to take corrective measures and announce the same when he responds to the debate on the budget in the Assembly.

Patil stated that people in north Karnataka are disappointed with Congress-JD(S) coalition government's first budget that had no new plans for the development of the region.

In the budget, the state government announced Rs 34,000-crore farm loan waiver and price hike in fuel, power tariffs and excise duty on Indian-made alcohol.