Ballari: In a major embarrassment for the BJP in Karnataka, former Ballari MP and BJP MLA from Molakalmuru Mr B. Sriramulu on Friday said he would support the call given by some organisations for a bandh on August 2 demanding separate statehood for the region. Speaking to the media here, Mr Sriramulu said he is ready to quit power for the welfare of the people in North Karnataka and alleged that injustice was being meted out to the region by the JD(S)-Congress coalition government.
His stand is contrary to that of BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa who had earlier flayed those demanding separate statehood, saying such a demand will not lead to any solution. The BJP has a pretty strong presence in North Karnataka but does not have much of a base in the South and has been trying desperately to augment its presence in the Old Mysuru region ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Full fledged support for the statehood cause is sure to turn away its supporters in south Karnataka-something the saffron party does not want to happen.
Taking a dig at CM Kumaraswamy, Mr Sriramulu said that he was behaving as if he is the CM of only a couple of districts and ignoring the people of North Karnataka. The CM had insulted North Karnataka farmers over the farm loan waiver scheme and also Mahadayi activists by asserting that they don’t have the morality to question him since they did not vote for his party in the recent assembly elections.
The JD(S) has no representation in the Assembly from about 16 districts and more than 100 of its candidates had lost their deposits in the assembly elections.
“Despite this, he has become CM of the state and is now indulging in the politics of vengeance and has forgotten promises made in his party's assembly election manifesto,” he added. Mr Sriramulu also criticised former CM and chairman of the coalition government's coordination committee Mr Siddaramaiah for not raising his voice against injustice being meted out to North Karnataka. "Siddaramaiah has won from Badami in Bagalkot district, but has no courtesy to raise his voice for the people of the region", he said.
