K'taka CM to lead all-party delegation to PM

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is leading an all-party delegation on Tuesday to call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and plead for allotment of adequate fertiliser apart from submitting a charter of demands.

Yeddyurappa's maiden delegation to New Delhi after the BJP government came to power in this southern state, is expected to press the Centre for granting classical language status to Kannada and amendment of the Article 371 to extend special financial benefits for development of backward north Karnataka region among others, official sources told PTI.

The Chief Minister will also be seeking early reimbursement of Rs 1,250 crore towards the expenditure incurred on farmers' loan waiver scheme implementation and Rs 5,000 crore immediate assistance to address infrastructure needs of Bangalore city.

Karnataka and the Centre have been locked in a war of words over fertiliser shortage, after which parts of the state had witnessed protests in June.

While the Centre maintains that fertiliser quota allotted to Karnataka has been released and the state has sufficient stocks, Yeddyurappa has been blaming the Centre for scarcity.

The delegation would be meeting the Prime Minister on Wednesday and also concerned Union Ministers, sources said.