Bengaluru, Aug 1: The Uttara Karnataka Rait Sangh (UKRS) has announced a shutdown in 13 northern districts of the state tomorrow. The bandh call came despite Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy appealing protesting groups in North Karnataka to call off the stir.

Rait Sangh state president Basavaraj Karigar said Kumaraswamy's appeal will continue to fall on deaf ears as the people of North Karnataka have separated themselves "mentally". "Only the administrative demarcation is pending," he told reporters in Hubballi.

Fresh protests seeking separate statehood for North Karnataka erupted after the Congress-JD(S) government presented their first budget in July. Citing the lack of budgetary allocations made to the north, a dozen of groups under the aegis of UKRS launched agitations reviving the decade-old demand of statehood.

In a bid to quell the bandh call, CM Kumaraswamy met a delegation of protesting groups on Wednesday appealing them to call off the stir. To pacify the agitators, Kumaraswamy has promised to make Belagavi the state's second capital.

He further assured that his government would take immediate measures to resolve the plight of North Karnataka farmers and create employment opportunities for the youths.

The Rait Sangh, however, calls it empty rhetoric which the people of northern districts "have been hearing for the last six-decades".

Karigar, the outfit's chief, said they have given a chance to each government since the past 62 years, including the erstwhile regime of Kumaraswamy formed 12 years ago.

Karigar was accompanied by top seer Navachetana Shadakshari Swamiji of Rajavidyashrama, Siddharooh Math in Hubballi, who told the press that only a separate state could resolve the plight of Belagavi and neighbouring districts.

"We don't lack resources. What we lack is political will. When our own people will govern us, the region would finally be on the track of development," he said.

The Rait Sangh claims it has conducted a survey in 13 northern districts, reaching out to a total of 65 lakh people. 91 per cent of the respondents said they support the demand of separate statehood, the outfit claims.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 01, 2018 10:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).