The decades-old debate over dividing Karnataka has been dramatically revived after senior BJP leader and Kagwad MLA Raju Kage wrote to state and central leaders demanding the secession of North Karnataka into a separate state. However, Kage’s demand was swiftly and severely criticized by former Deputy Chief Minister and fellow senior BJP leader, Govind Karjol.
Karjol, who serves as an MP from Chitradurga, dismissed the call, stating that the legislator’s stance “reflected a poor grasp of the state’s history.”
The Historical Argument for ‘Akhanda Karnataka’
Karjol argued vehemently against the idea of division, emphasizing the decades of struggle and sacrifice that went into unifying the state, formerly known as “Mysore State.”
“One of my family members was also jailed for struggling for the formation of Akhanda Karnataka. BJP will never support the demand of splitting the state,” Karjol asserted.
He stressed that concerns regarding uneven development should be addressed directly with the government rather than used as a premise for state division. “If someone feels that their region is neglected, they have to fight with the government to sort it out,” he added, stating clearly that “nobody should speak of splitting the state.”
MLA Kage’s Demand for a Separate State
Raju Kage submitted a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the creation of a new state comprising 15 districts in the northern part of Karnataka.
- Reason for Division: Kage stated that the region has suffered “stepmotherly treatment” since unification, which has resulted in hindered development.
- Economic Case: He wrote that “North Karnataka is rich with resources and has contributed immensely to the conservation of Kannada and to the unification of Karnataka.”
- Development Focus: Kage argued that the demand for a separate state is purely for the sake of “comprehensive development.”
Kage also threw his full support behind a signature campaign launched by the Uttara Karnataka Horata Samiti, claiming the group has already collected signatures and opinions from 10 million people and submitted memoranda to top central and state officials.
The Looming Threat of Protest
The MLA’s move has amplified the threats from regional organizations like the Uttara Karnataka Horata Samiti and Uttara Karnataka Vikas Vedike, which have warned they will hoist the flag of a separate North Karnataka at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha if their development concerns are ignored during the upcoming winter session in Belagavi.
Kage previously accused the government of neglecting the region’s needs, calling the legislative session a mere “two week excursion” and noting that flood-affected farmers are still awaiting compensation.
He further justified the call for division by comparing Karnataka to other large states:
“Uttar Pradesh has a population of 21 crore and should be made into four states. Maharashtra has a population of 11 crore and should be made into three states. Similarly, Karnataka has a population of 6.5 crore. Against this backdrop, it should be divided into two states.”
Despite the fierce political resistance, Kage maintained his position: “For the development of that region, it should be a separate state. I will continue to be in the BJP. Even if it is a separate state, we are Kannadigas.”