Senior BJP MLA Umesh Katti demands separate statehood to north Karnataka
Bengaluru, Oct 18: Senior BJP MLA Umesh Katti kicked up a row on Friday demanding a separate statehood to North Karnataka as he cited lack of development in the region and inadequate relief to the victims of the recent floods.
"My struggle will continue till my death against the injustice to this region,'' Katti told reporters at Sankeshwar in Belagavi district, which bore the brunt of the floods in north Karnataka region in August.
Katti expressed his angst over lack of water supply in certain parts of the state from neighbouring Maharashtra and Goa.
The eight-time MLA sought to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inadequate central relief for the flood victims, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over water-sharing.
"Neither is (Chief Minister B S) Yediyurappa's action appropriate, nor is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's action good or even Maharashtra CM's action is good," Katti said.
He added that there was still an opportunity to hold discussions between the states and come to a resolution that benefits all.
"If that is not done, then separate statehood to North Karnataka is inevitable", Katti, who failed to secure a berth in Yediyurappa's cabinet, said.
"I endorse that if the relief is not provided then the separate statehood to North Karnataka is the answer," he said.
Laying the "road map of his dream state" of North Karnataka, Katti said it would include 13 districts from Karnataka and four from the neighbouring Maharashtra, where there is sizeable presence of Kannada speaking populace.
"If they don't agree to our demands, we will include Kolhapur, Sangli, Karad and one more from Maharashtra and 13 from Karnataka - All these districts put together will be in the North Karnataka state," Katti said.
Stating that he was a 'CM material', Katti said before his death he would realise the dream of becoming the Chief Minister of North Karnataka.
"I am a CM candidate, not the one who craves for the post of DCM. Either Chief Minister (of Karnataka) or the Chief Minister of North Karnataka, which is not far away.
Before my end I will be the Chief Minister of North Karnataka," Katti, a votary of North Karnataka state for quite long, said.
However, he clarified that his need to become the "Chief Minister of North Karnataka" derives from the injustice meted out to the northern part of the state.
He added that his struggle would continue till his demands were met.
"If it is destined then I could become minister or chief minister one day but the lack of development in this region is what compelling me to protest and demand separate statehood.
This is my resolve," the Hukkeri MLA said.
He slammed Yediyurappa for his alleged statement in poll bound Maharashtra during an election rally that water from Karnataka would be given to Maharashtra.
Katti became the second BJP MLA in the recent past to slam the BJP leadership for the alleged injustice to North Karnataka.
Prior to him, Vijayapura city MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal had criticised Prime Minister Modi for not releasing adequate funds to rebuild flood-hit regions of Karnataka.
Yatnal, who drew the ire of the party high command for his critical comments, went on to say that some people want to unseat Yediyurappa and so, "they blocked" the funds.
Yatnal was served with a show-cause notice by the central disciplinary committee of the BJP, seeking his reply for his utterances.
When contacted, the state BJP general secretary and MLC N Ravi Kumar said he was not aware of what Katti has spoken.
"However, the Chief Minister will speak to him and ask him what he has said," Kumar said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
UP: Fake IAS officer marries woman, flees with Rs 15 lakh dowry
Gorakhpur (UP) (PTI): A newly married man fled with the Rs 15 lakh given to him as dowry by the bride's family, and it came to light later that he was an alleged serial scammer, police said on Sunday.
The accused, identified as Pritam Kumar Nishad from Etawah, allegedly posed as an IAS officer to deceive the woman into marrying him. He is currently absconding with his sister, and a case has been filed against him for cheating, dowry harassment, and forgery, officials said.
According to the police, the woman's family claimed that they spent nearly Rs 30 lakh for the wedding that was solemnised on March 11.
The match was arranged through a matrimonial group, where the accused introduced himself as an IAS officer, sharing purported interview clips, office visuals, and photographs with politicians to gain the family's trust.
Despite initially claiming he would marry without dowry, the accused allegedly demanded Rs 15 lakh shortly before the engagement. The bride's family paid Rs 10 lakh in cash during the engagement and the remaining Rs 5 lakh on the wedding day, the police said.
The fraud came to light on Saturday after the woman reached Etawah, and a wedding attendee informed the family that the accused was not a civil servant. When her relatives visited the address provided by him, they found her in a small rented room, while the accused and his sister had fled, the police added.
The woman has also alleged that the accused planned to take her to Goa and sell her, and accused him of inappropriate behaviour.
The police suspect that the accused may have been involved in multiple such marriages in the past. Based on a complaint lodged at the cantonment police station, an FIR was registered on Saturday evening.
Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Kaustubh said efforts are underway to arrest the accused.
_vb_13.jpeg)
