BELAGAVI: Commercial establishments, schools and colleges remained closed in Kittur town of Belagavi district on Tuesday in response to a bandh call to oppose the Karnataka government’s decision to construct a replica of the Kittur fort and palace at a nearby village.
The government has planned to construct a replica of the Kittur fort and palace on a parcel of government land of Bacchanakeri village, 7km from Kittur. Deputy commissioner Nitesh Patil recently issued a notification inviting objections from public. Interestingly, people from both Kittur and Bacchanakeri have taken exception to the proposal.
The Kittur rally, held in the morning, was led by Madiwala Rajayogindra Swamiji of Kalmath in which thousands of people participated. They reached Belagavi in bikes and cars later in the day, and staged a rally from Channamma Circle to the deputy commissioner’s office premises. Protesters submitted a memorandum to additional DC Ashok Dudagunti, urging the government to drop the move.
Madiwala Rajayogindra Swamiji said the government must, instead, build a replica on a piece of private land opposite the existing Kittur fort after duly acquiring it. “The replica should be built at the karmabhoomi of queen Channamma. There is no meaning in constructing it in another place, which would be a waste of public money. We will not allow that,” he said.
Bacchanakeri villagers, who participated in the rally, said the government proposal is to build the replica on the gaumala land handed by the Ramakrishna Hegde government. The land is used for grazing livestock. They said the government has unilaterally made this decision without consulting villagers.
The government has planned to construct a replica of the Kittur fort and palace on a parcel of government land of Bacchanakeri village, 7km from Kittur. Deputy commissioner Nitesh Patil recently issued a notification inviting objections from public. Interestingly, people from both Kittur and Bacchanakeri have taken exception to the proposal.
The Kittur rally, held in the morning, was led by Madiwala Rajayogindra Swamiji of Kalmath in which thousands of people participated. They reached Belagavi in bikes and cars later in the day, and staged a rally from Channamma Circle to the deputy commissioner’s office premises. Protesters submitted a memorandum to additional DC Ashok Dudagunti, urging the government to drop the move.
Madiwala Rajayogindra Swamiji said the government must, instead, build a replica on a piece of private land opposite the existing Kittur fort after duly acquiring it. “The replica should be built at the karmabhoomi of queen Channamma. There is no meaning in constructing it in another place, which would be a waste of public money. We will not allow that,” he said.
Bacchanakeri villagers, who participated in the rally, said the government proposal is to build the replica on the gaumala land handed by the Ramakrishna Hegde government. The land is used for grazing livestock. They said the government has unilaterally made this decision without consulting villagers.