Belgaum violence: Maharashtra to write to Karnataka govt

Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday decided to convey the “state’s strong sentiments” on the alleged police atrocities against Marathi speaking citizens in Belgaum to the Karnataka government.

Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday decided to convey the “state’s strong sentiments” on the alleged police atrocities against Marathi speaking citizens in Belgaum to the Karnataka government.

The Marathi speaking protesters had alleged that they were beaten and tortured by the police for the agitation against the Karnataka government in Belgaum. (HT Pic for Representation)

Marathi speaking protestors and youths representing Maharashtra Ekikaran Simiti (MES) were arrested on sedition charges for participating in ‘Black Day’ in Belgaum on Karnataka Rajyotsava Day on November 1. “The cabinet unanimously decided to convey the strong sentiments of Maharashtra in the matter to Karnataka government through a letter,” said cultural affairs minister Vinod Tawde.

Shiv Sena leader and transport minister Diwakar Raote had written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday urging him to discuss the issue in the cabinet on Tuesday. Raote, backed by four other Sena ministers, had demanded that a resolution be moved to condemn the action. The party had termed the atrocities as violation of the human rights.

The protestor also had alleged that they were beaten and tortured by the police for the agitation against the Karnataka government in Belgaum. The MES has been demanding 814 villages with the dominance of the Marathi speaking citizens to be integrated with Maharashtra. The state government has been fighting the case in Supreme Court for more than a decade now.