MES backed corporators demanding documents in Marathi language during the council meeting in Belagavi.
Credit: DH Photo
Belagavi: Belagavi City Corporation council meeting witnessed clashes over linguistic issue as MES backed independent corporators Ravi Salunke, Shivaji Mandolkar and Vaishali Bhatkande, who are part of opposition group, demanded that proceedings should be conducted in Marathi on Thursday.
They also wanted the civic body documents to be released in Marathi.
As the house witnessed acrimonious scenes with members from opposition group itself opposing their demands, Mayor Mangesh Pawar adjourned the house for five minutes.
As the house proceedings began, Salunke demanded all documents and proceedings of the civic body in Marathi as per linguistic minority act. He was supported by Mandolkar and Bhatkande.
Opposition member Ramesh Sontakki was against the demands and stated that all documents should be given in state language of Kannada only. Solanki argued that even Maharashtra does not make documents available in Kannada to linguistic minorities.
Ruling group leader Hanumant Kongali and Girish Dhongadi said that the house should function as per agenda and Salunke should speak only when opportunity is given.
Later, Salunke, Mandolkar and Bhatkande boycotted the house.
As chaos prevailed, Mayor Pawar adjourned the house for five minutes.
MLA Abhay Patil later asked MLA Asif Sait to rein in the opposition group member who, according to him has been doing too much of theatrics, to garner media attention.