<p> The convention organised by a faction of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) on Sunday passed off as a low-key affair, with poor turnout of dignitaries.<br /><br />Worst, the meet which was organised to garner support for MES, also brought to surface the rift between the two factions of the organisation.<br /><br />Ministers and prominent politicians from Maharashtra government, who were expected by the MES, did not turn up, and attendance of the activists too was thin at the event held in Yellur, a border village . <br /><br />The MES set August 15 as the deadline for the Maharashtra government to get the union territory status for the areas having Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka. <br /><br />Kiran Thakur, president of the MES faction that organised the event, said the Marathi-speaking people in the State were meted out injustice. Only an union territory status to these areas will provide a solution, he said.<br /><br />Youth attending the convention questioned the absence of leaders from Maharashtra and condemned MES leaders for luring them to the venue with false assurances.</p>.<p>They condemned the leaders’ accusations against leaders of another faction, and thereby dividing the Marathi-speaking community. Shiv Sena leaders Sayanekar, Vasant Kesarkar from Sawantwadi and local leaders of the MES were <br />present. <br /></p>
<p> The convention organised by a faction of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) on Sunday passed off as a low-key affair, with poor turnout of dignitaries.<br /><br />Worst, the meet which was organised to garner support for MES, also brought to surface the rift between the two factions of the organisation.<br /><br />Ministers and prominent politicians from Maharashtra government, who were expected by the MES, did not turn up, and attendance of the activists too was thin at the event held in Yellur, a border village . <br /><br />The MES set August 15 as the deadline for the Maharashtra government to get the union territory status for the areas having Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka. <br /><br />Kiran Thakur, president of the MES faction that organised the event, said the Marathi-speaking people in the State were meted out injustice. Only an union territory status to these areas will provide a solution, he said.<br /><br />Youth attending the convention questioned the absence of leaders from Maharashtra and condemned MES leaders for luring them to the venue with false assurances.</p>.<p>They condemned the leaders’ accusations against leaders of another faction, and thereby dividing the Marathi-speaking community. Shiv Sena leaders Sayanekar, Vasant Kesarkar from Sawantwadi and local leaders of the MES were <br />present. <br /></p>
