As the indefinite agitation demanding bifurcation of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) to create a municipal corporation for Dharwad entered the seventh day on May 21, it received support from various organisations, including community associations and the JD(Secular), and environmentalist Suresh Heblikar.

As part of the agitation, the protestors installed a new name board, naming the existing office of Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Corporation in Dharwad as ‘Dharwad Municipal Corporation Office’.

On May 21, a huge demonstration was held in front of the HDMC office in Dharwad in which members of various community organisations and Suresh Heblikar took part.

Addressing the protestors, Mr. Heblikar emphasised the need for creation of a separate municipal corporation for Dharwad. He said that Dharwad was home to historic lakes, and hundreds of artistes and writers. “In order to preserve the unique culture and natural treasure of Dharwad, and to achieve independent development, creation of separate municipal corporation is essential,” he said.

Activists and JD(S) leader Gururaj Hunasimarad alleged that Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and MLA Arvind Bellad had betrayed the residents of Dharwad on the issue of separate municipal corporation, and said that they would be taught a lesson by the people in the coming days.

Speaking on behalf of retired forest officers’ association, Shankar Sadani said that because of being clubbed with Hubballi, Dhawad had received a setback in terms of development. Only through creation of a separate municipal corporation, comprehensive development of Dharwad could be achieved, he said.

On May 21members of ‘Kshatriya Samaj’ and ‘Madiga Samaj’ extended support to the agitation by participating in the demonstration.

Office-bearers and members of the agitation committee, Venkatesh Machakanur, Aravind Eganagoudar, Rajashekhar Kamati, Vittal Kammar, Vasanth Arkachar, Kavita Kabber, Prakash Ghatge, Deepa Neeralakatti and scores of residents from C.B. Nagar, Navalur, Sattur, Kalyan Nagar and Shivagiri took part in the demonstration on May 21.

It may be recalled that two delegations one led by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and another led by Labour Minister Santish Lad had met Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot with a request to give his assent to the proposal for bifurcation of Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) to facilitate creation of Dharwad municipal corporation.