Kasaragod: In a Border Karnataka  Area Conference held in Kasaragod on Saturday last, Aug.7, Vatal Nagaraj, past president of Border state studies commission and leaders of Vatal Kannada Movement Party, complained at large that no govt. in Karnataka ever came forward to struggle for the merger of Kasaragod region (from Ullal downwards) with Karnataka since 1956. He was speaking as a guest of honour at the Kasaragod town Hall in a well attended conference organised by DK district Sahitya Parishat, Karnataka Border Areas Development Authority, and Coastal cultural Foundation last week. Vatal initiated the proceedings with a call.

Kasaragod is the voice of Karnataka, said he, and the first border level conference is held here, in the fitness of things, he added. He said his people offer their full support to local Kannadigas. Vatal Nagaraj offered to held a conference Kasaragod Kannadigas in Bangalore next January (2011).

Hari Krishna Punaroor, past KSP chief, presided on the occasion. A number of prominent men and women in public life were present at the Border Conference, including Delhi Karnataka Sangh chief C.V. Gopinath, local MLA Kunhambu, Tamil Selvi of Madras University, Kasaragod Mayor Bi Fatima Ibrahim, Dharwad Kannada Action Committee chairman Mohan Nagammanavar and Ms. Savitri Suresh Kumar.

Bala Krishna Aggithaya read out the messages. Shivaram Kasaragod welcomed the gathering. Jagdish Koodlu thanked. M.N. Chambalthiyar compered the proceedings. Aboobakkar Arlapadavu made the opening remarks.
There is a resurgent atmosphere in Kasaragod to get back its original place in DK dt.