E-Paper
Karnataka Minister’s ‘Jay Maharashtra’ slogan ban leads to tension in Belgavi
Maharashtra Chief Minister writes letter to Karnataka government and Centre, warns to approach Supreme Court if Karnataka does not withdraw the order.
Tension prevails in Belgavi in Karnataka with Urban Development Department (UDD) Minister Roshan Baig’s decision to ban ‘Jay Maharashtra’ slogan. Shiv Sena has taken an aggressive stand on Baig’s decision with its activists resorting to protests in bordering areas on Maharashtra-Karnataka border. Karnataka government has banned entry of two Sena leaders, who are scheduled to land in Belgavi Thursday noon.
Baig had announced ban on Jay Maharashtra slogan last week. UDD Minister had said that elected representatives would be disqualified if they raised the slogan. The decision created discontent among Marathi -speaking people in Belgavi. The Marathi-speaking people, led by Maharashtra Eakikaran Samiti, have been agitating against Baig’s announcement.
Shiv Sena on Wednesday had announced to send its two ministers, Diwakar Rawate and Deepak Savant, to support Marathi -speaking people in Belgavi. Both ministers were scheduled to reach Belgavi Thursday noon but their entry was prohibited late on Wednesday night. Sena is yet to announce its decision. Sena mouthpiece ‘Samana’ has been writing aggressively on this issue since Baig’s announcement. Sena ministers have announced that they would raise slogan in the presence of large number of people from bordering areas.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed displeasure over Baig’s decision and has written a letter to Karnataka government and Union government on the issue. Fadnavis has also warned that the government would approach the Supreme Court if Karnataka did not withdraw the order.Maharashtra PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil, who has been assigned the responsibility to coordinate the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute, has described the decision as ‘unconstitutional’.
Heavy police force has been deployed at all the entry points of Maharashtra-Karnataka to prevent agitating Sena supporters from entering Belgavi. Marathi-speaking people from Belgavi area are fighting for merger with Maharashtra for more than five decades.