Codava National Council holds 10th human chain in Siddapura, renews demand for recognition

CNC protest at Siddapura

Siddapura: The Codava National Council (CNC) on Thursday organised its 10th peaceful human chain at Siddapura Town Circle, reiterating demands for a separate code and column for Codavas in the upcoming national population census and caste enumeration scheduled for 2025–26.

Led by CNC chairman N.U. Nachappa, the event drew participation from Codavas across the region who braved heavy rains to demonstrate solidarity with the council’s cause. Nachappa said the move was crucial to “assert historical continuity, preserve indigenous identity and secure constitutional recognition for the Codava community as a minuscule micro-ethnic group.”

The CNC’s key demands include Scheduled Tribe (ST) classification, special political reservation in the State Assembly and Parliament, and recognition of Codavas’ contributions to national security. The organisation has also urged the Union Government to draw parallels with Sikkim’s Sangha Assembly constituency and extend similar representation to Codavas in the 2026 delimitation process.

Raising concerns over alleged irregularities in the voter list, Nachappa accused the ruling political class of facilitating the settlement of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in Codava heartland under the guise of supporting minorities, leading to demographic and cultural threats. “Over one lakh illegal immigrants are staying in company estates, posing a serious national security risk,” he alleged.

The human chain also highlighted local anxieties over large-scale township projects, including the proposed Megha Villas in Siddapura, which activists claim is leading to destruction of forest land in an ecologically fragile, landslide-prone region.

Participants of the event pledged themselves to the Codava struggle, invoking Cauvery, Mother Earth, and their sacred traditions, before concluding with the national anthem. The CNC announced that its next human chain would be held in Virajpet on August 27.

To advertise on The Kodagu Express website, kindly call us at 9108795369 or mail us at thekodaguexpress@gmail.com 

Join The Kodagu Express WhatsApp Group: CLICK HERE 

Follow us on Instagram and X(Twitter)

•