Advocate and Uttar Karnataka Vikas Vedike (UKVV) leader BD Hiremath has called on the government to declare Belagavi as Karnataka’s second capital and to approve the construction of an administrative building near the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha (SVS) during the upcoming cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Hiremath criticized the lack of effective utilization of the SVS, which has remained largely symbolic since its inauguration 12 years ago. “The building has only been used for the annual 10-day legislature session and has failed to resolve the issues of the people of North Karnataka,” he stated.
Hiremath lamented the ongoing struggles of North Karnataka residents to secure basic amenities, such as a high court bench in Dharwad or the SVS itself, blaming the lack of political will among elected representatives. He recalled former President Pranab Mukherjee’s remarks during the SVS inauguration on October 11, 2011, where Mukherjee referred to the structure as a gift to North Karnataka, meant to eliminate the need for people to travel to Bengaluru for administrative purposes. However, Hiremath pointed out, no such progress has been made.
He urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to approve the construction of an administrative building at the SVS premises, modeled after Bengaluru’s Vidhana Soudha, and to declare Belagavi as the state’s second capital officially. “If our demands are ignored, we are prepared to make any sacrifice to ensure justice,” he said.
UKVV president Ashok Pujari also criticized the limited benefits of the winter sessions at the SVS, noting that repeated demands from seers and social activists for secretariat-level government offices have yet to be answered. Pujari called on the people of North Karnataka to unite for their rights.
The UKVV has announced plans for a protest in Belagavi on December 2, where a memorandum will be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner. Leaders Gururaj Hunasimarad, SB Patil, and Virupax Niralagimath were also present during the announcement.
