The second phase agitation seeking a separate municipal corporation began in Dharwad on Friday with the Separate Municipal Corporation Struggle Committee launching a protest campaign titled ‘Satya Pratipadana’ to assert its rightful demand.

As part of the campaign, people from different walks of life staged a symbolic dharna and satyagraha in front of the Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha and expressed their ire against the government for not fulfilling their rightful demand.

It may be recalled that last month, the HDMC council passed a resolution seeking creation of Greater HDMC which is against the earlier decision of the bifurcation of HDMC to create Dharwad municipal corporation.

Among them a group of protesters picketed the residence of former MLA Chadrakanth Bellad, accusing his son and incumbent MLA from Hubballi Dharwad West constituency Arvind Bellad of writing to the Governor of Karnataka to stall the Bill on bifurcation of HDMC sent by the government.

Addressing the protesters, AICC member Deepak Chinchore alleged that Mr. Arvind Bellad was playing a double game. Mr. Arvind Bellad who earlier supported the bifurcation of HDMC had now written to the Governor asking him not to give his assent to the Bill sent by the State government on the bifurcation. Residents of Dharwad would teach him a lesson, he said.

Mr. Chinchore also warned of intensifying the agitation if any decision was taken against the interest of the Dharwad.

President of High Court Advocates’ Association B.D. Hiremath warned that if the government and elected representatives failed to respond immediately to their legitimate demand, they would be forced to launch indefinite hunger strike in the coming days to assert their rightful demand.

Senior Congressman and former chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council Veeranna Mattikatti said that a separate municipal corporation was crucial for the development of Dharwad and urged the Governor to approve the Bill on bifurcation of HDMC without further delay.

Committee leader Mahadev Horatti appealed to BJP leaders to intervene in the issue and ensure that the Governor cleared the Bill to fulfil the long pending demand for separate municipal corporation.

Activist Aravind Eganagoudar said that while the movement for separate municipal corporation had reached its final stage with the efforts of former MLA Vinay Kulkarni, BJP leaders had betrayed the residents of Dharwad by trying to stall the process.

Extend support

Several organisations extended support to the campaign by participating in the symbolic protest on Friday. JD(S) leader Gururaj Hunashimarad, former Mayor Danappa Kabber, Basheer Ahmed Jahagirdar, Manoj Patil, Venkatesh Machakanur, HDMC councillor Rajashekhar Kamati, Gouramma Balogi, Balanna Shigihalli, Basavaraj Jadhav, Shrishailagouda Kamatar and several others took part in the symbolic protest. Following the protest affected vehicular movement was affected for some time on various roads in Dharwad.