Madikeri: After the incumbent Deputy Commissioner Sreevidya P I took a tough stand over the clearance of pending arms exemption certificates, the Codava National Council(CNC) has decided to hold a protest on March 1 against the district administration.

Addressing a press conference, CNC President N U Nachappa accused the DC of violating the provisions of law and termed it as a grave offence. Kodvas have unhindered rights to hold weapons as per the provisions of the Indian Arms Act, he claimed stating, “We are seeking our birth rights and not alms.”

He urged the deputy commissioner to clear nearly 3000 pending applications seeking exemption at once, without further delay.

Meanwhile, he urged the state government to continue the ethnographic and socio-economic survey to assign tribal status to Kodavas.