Demand for Dharwad corporation: On eighth day of protest, relay hunger strike launched

An agitation seeking bifurcation of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation to create a separate corporation for Dharwad entered the eighth day on Friday and the agitation committee launched a relay hunger strike.

More organisations have come forward to extend solidarity with the agitation and on Friday around 200 workers led by trade union leaders from Dandeli took part in the protest

Announcing the launch of the relay hunger strike, senior advocate and activist B.D. Hiremath said that the agitation committee was unhappy with the stand taken by the Governor on the issue and decided to continue the agitation till the demand was met.

On the first day of the relay hunger strike, activists Venkatesh Machakanur, Manoj Patil, Shivashankar Hampannavar, Kavitha Kabber and Deepa Neeralakattii fasted for the day. On Saturday, five others will stage a fast.

The protesters have also indicated that they would call for a Dharwad bandh on May 30, if their demand was not met.

Addressing the protesters, office-bearers of various organisations accused Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and MLA Arvind Bellad of stalling the Governor’s assent for the propsal on bifurcation and thereby betraying the residents of Dharwad. As the agitation intensified they took a delegation to cover up their act, they alleged.

They demanded that since they had stalled the procedure, they should now prevail upon the Governor to get it approved.

A host of leaders took part in Friday’s agitation during which a protest march with bullock carts was taken out.

Meanwhile, criticising BJP leaders, who had earlier erected banners claiming credit for a Cabinet decision on bifurcation, Congress leaders have erected banners mocking Mr. Joshi and Mr. Bellad.