Karnataka: Raichur AIIMS protest enters 100th day today

RAICHUR: An indefinite agitation for an AIIMS in Raichur will enter its 100th day on Saturday. The agitation launched by a few activists has now become a bigger protest.
The Raichur District AIIMS Horata Samiti will hold an event to mark the 100th day of agitation by inviting all seers in the district.
Basavaraj Kalasa, the samiti's chief convenor, said 20 seers have been invited. "As many are busy with Shravana Masa programmes, we are expecting the participation of about 15 seers. Subudhendra Teertha, the pontif of Mantralaya Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, has extended his support to the agitation. We are planning a convention of seers to mark the 100th day of our agitation. All seers are expected to give a call to the public for the agitation" he said.
Samiti convenor Ashok Kumar Jain said seating for over 3,000 people would be arranged for. "Associations of rice millers, dal millers and vegetable merchants are sponsoring the lunch for the crowd. Many more organisations and individuals are contributing voluntarily to the event, expected to become a landmark for Raichur and Kalyan Karnataka," he said.
Other office-beares such as advocate S Mareppa, MR Bheri, Basheer Ahmed Hosamani, farmer leader Chamaras Patil said that as the agitation is for a hitech institution, the arrangements are also hitech, with a stage of 20ftx40ft with an office. "A tent at the cost of Rs 1 lakh has been installed so that we can run the convention smoothly despite rains or storms," one of them said.
Kalasa said the 100th-day convention was expected to mount pressure on the state government. "As the chief minister Basavaraj Bommai is scheduled to visit Raichur on August 27, the convention will pressurise him to comment on the issue. Otherwise, we are committed to continue the agitation till we get assurance that Raichur, instead of Dharwad, would get the sanction for the AIIMS," he said.