Bangalore: The statement of Assembly Speaker KG Bopaiah placing forth the demand for a separate statehood for Kodagu, while criticizing the World Heritage site tag to the Western Ghats, has come under a lot of criticism. On Wednesday Bopaiah had challenged the government by stating “ Make Kodagu a separate state, we will protect its forest areas.”

If the Congress has demanded  a public apology from Bopaiah for such remarks, his statement was meaningless, several writers and social activists have stated.

While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Bopaiah had raised strong objection to the inclusion of Western Ghats in World Heritage Site list and added that they did not need lessons from anyone on conserving forests.

Asked why he was opposing the proposal, Bopaiah shot back questioning what was the benefit of including it in the World Heritage site list.

He at the same time said he did not undersand what the forest officials were doing when  there was forest land encroachment on Karnataka-Kerala borders.

KPCC President G Parameshwar who has strongly objected to Bopaiah’s statement, has said it was not something which a person like him who holds a responsible position can speak.

Several others including Dr M Chidanandamurthi, senior scholar, Dr MM Kalaburgi, senior researcher and Patila Puttappa, veteran journalist have objected to the Speaker’s remarks.