BELAGAVI
Belagavi City will be out of bounds on Tuesday as scores of personalities and kurubas (shepherds) from across the nation will be in Belagavi to take part in the 9th National Convention organised by Shepherd India International (SII).
Considering the massive gathering for the convention, traffic entering the city from Maharashtra, Goa and Sindhudurg would be diverted throughout from all the entry points, a press release by the Police Commissioner’s Office said.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who himself hails from Kuruba Community will be felicitated at the convention that will commence from 11 am.
Addressing the press conference here, former minister H Vishwanath said a total of around 2 lakh people and delegates from different states of the country would take part in the convention. “The main stage has been named after Sangolli Rayanna while the entire stage and pandal set-up has been named after Rani Kittur Channamma,” he said.
Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, Union Minister SP Singh Baghel, Uttar Pradesh Minister Ajit Singh Pal, Andhra Pradesh Minister Usha Sri Charan and several other state and central leaders will participate in the convention. “Kuruba leaders from across the country will be joining the felicitation programme of Siddaramaiah, a tall leader of the community, who became chief minister for the second time,” senior Congress leader H M Revanna said.
The population of the Kuruba (shepherds) community is about 12 crore. "We will be placing 10 demands before the state and central governments. The first demand is for the ST reservation to the Kuruba community in the state. The proposal already sent by CM Siddaramiah is pending before the centre. Our second reservation for OBC women, though the center has recently passed a women's reservation bill," Revanna said.
Laxmanrao Chingale, president of Karnataka State Kuruba Organisation, former MLC Vivekrao Patil, former president Rajendra Sannakki, and others were present.
