Bangalore: External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today welcomed the Centre's move to accord special status to backward Hyderabad-Karnataka region, saying it would meet the long-pending demands of the people of north-Karnakata.

It was a historic decision taken by the UPA Government to meet the long-pending demands of the people of North Karnataka, he said in a statement here.

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) today decided to amend Article 371 of the Constitution by moving a Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament to bring the Hyderabad-Karnataka region under special status to help faster development.

People of six North Karnataka districts — Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal and Bellary — welcomed the Centre's decision by bursting crackers.