Belagavi division to curb dissent?

Belagavi: The feud between the influential Jarkiholi brothers and state Congress women's wing president, Laxmi Hebbalkar has set off fears that the coalition government may consider trifurcating Belagavi district for its survival.  Pro-Kannada organisations, which believe the government has already convened a high-level meeting with the Chief Secretary to discuss the possibility,  have threatened to an launch agitation against it during the visit of  Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to Belagavi on Saturday to participate in the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka Law Society.  President Ramnath Kovind is also expected to attend the event.

"We  fear that Mr Kumaraswamy could announce trifurcation of the district during his visit to Belagavi on Saturday. Although 12 Kannada organisations wanted to submit a memorandum to him against such a move, they have been denied permission. But we will go on a  protest if the government attempts the trifurcation," warned Kannada activist, Ashok Chandaragi.  

 The J H Patel government had talked of dividing the district into three in 1997, but  the plan was dropped after several organisations protested. But now, it is believed that the present government is considering it again to placate the district Congress leaders, who have been fighting for  control over it. Interestingly, Mr Satish Jarkiholi has come out in support of  dividing the district for the sake of its " development." Recalling that the issue has been pending for the last 20 years and he himself had raised it in the state assembly, he says it should be discussed by the state's co-ordination committee.  

But pro-Kannada activists contend that division of the district could reduce the Kannadigas in it to a minority and give rise to law and order problems over linguistic issues. years it was the most popular spot for immersion of Ganesha idols in the city as people celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with their usual fervor, little realising that they were destroying  years it was the most popular spot for immersion of Ganesha idols in the city as people celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with their usual fervor, little realising that they were destroying