Madikeri: Festive atmosphere prevailed at Madikeri in Kodagu District this morning as renowned economist, former Union Law Minister and present Rajya Sabha Member Dr. Subramanian Swamy arrived to attend the 27th Codava National Day organised by Codava National Council (CNC). Dressed in traditional Kodava attire, complete with Kupya, Chele and Peechekathi and Mandethuni, Dr. Swamy was taken in an open jeep procession via the main thoroughfares to Gandhi Maidan, the main venue of the event while people cheered and showered flower petals on him. Dr. Swamy was accompanied by CNC President N.U. Nachappa and Virat Hindustan Sangam National General Secretary Jagdish Shetty. Addressing a massive gathering where thousands of people had assembled, Dr. Subramanian Swamy spoke on ‘Kodava Quest for Autonomy, Kodava Tribalism and Global Politics’. Amidst loud cheers from the audience, the Harvard Scholar said that the demand of Kodavas for autonomy was perfectly justified and he would help them get the autonomous status. “I assure you that I will help Kodagu get special autonomy status according to the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and to give due recognition to Kodava language by including it in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution,” he said. Citing the example of Telangana, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh, he said that autonomy for Kodagu was just a matter of time.
