Change of name will affect Hyderabad-Karnataka region: Basavaraj Rayaraddi

Koppal: Objecting to the Yediyurappa government's decision to rename Hyderabad-Karnataka as Kalyana Karnataka, senior Congress leader Basavaraj Rayaraddi warned on Saturday that it could come in the way of the benefits it has received under its special status. “The government's decision is likely to deprive the people of reservation and other benefits they have been given under Article 371J of the Constituion," he said, speaking to reporters here. “The Constitution accorded special status to Hyderabad Karnataka region and not Kalyana Karnataka. If someone challenged the special benefits like reservation in education and government jobs for the people of Kalyana Karnataka in court, they could lose them,” he added.

The only solution, in his view, was for the state government to get a Presidential ordinance passed at the earliest on the change of name of H-K region to Kalyana Karnataka and make a suitable Constitutional amendment in six months to rename it.

Mr Rayareddi took exception to the government's decision to celebrate Hyderabad Karnataka Independence Day on September 17 in Ballari to commemorate its independence from the Nizam's rule. “It's idiotic to celebrate independence from Hyderabad Nizam's rule in Ballari which was never a part of Nizam's state and was under British -ruled Madras Presidency before Independence," he said.