<p>Belagavi: Tensions flared during the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) council meeting on Thursday after MES-backed independent corporators demanded civic body documents and proceedings be provided in Marathi. The demand sparked heated exchanges, even within the opposition group, forcing Mayor Mangesh Pawar to briefly adjourn the house for five minutes.</p><p>As the meeting began, corporator Ravi Salunke, supported by Shivaji Mandolkar and Vaishali Bhatkande, invoked the Linguistic Minority Act and insisted that all official proceedings and documents of the civic body be made available in Marathi. However, the demand was immediately opposed by opposition member Ramesh Sontakki, who argued that all documentation should be strictly in Kannada, the official language of the state. “Even Maharashtra does not provide civic documents in Kannada to linguistic minorities,” he pointed out.</p><p>Members of the ruling group, including Hanumant Kongali and Girish Dhongadi, urged the corporators to follow the house agenda and wait for their turn to speak. BJP MLA Abhay Patil also intervened, stating that Salunke had submitted a notice and should speak only when granted permission by the Mayor.</p><p>As the argument escalated and the situation turned chaotic, Salunke, Mandolkar, and Bhatkande staged a walkout in protest. In response, Mayor Pawar adjourned the house for five minutes to restore order.</p><p>Later, MLA Abhay Patil criticised the conduct of the MES-backed corporators, accusing them of creating disruptions for media attention. He asked Congress MLA Asif Sait to intervene and take responsibility, pointing out that the three corporators were part of the Congress-led opposition group.</p><p>“If the opposition continues to take such a stand on language, the ruling party will be forced to respond similarly on state matters,” Patil warned.</p><p>MLA Asif Sait assured the house that he would speak to the MES-backed corporators and attempt to resolve the issue internally.</p>
<p>Belagavi: Tensions flared during the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) council meeting on Thursday after MES-backed independent corporators demanded civic body documents and proceedings be provided in Marathi. The demand sparked heated exchanges, even within the opposition group, forcing Mayor Mangesh Pawar to briefly adjourn the house for five minutes.</p><p>As the meeting began, corporator Ravi Salunke, supported by Shivaji Mandolkar and Vaishali Bhatkande, invoked the Linguistic Minority Act and insisted that all official proceedings and documents of the civic body be made available in Marathi. However, the demand was immediately opposed by opposition member Ramesh Sontakki, who argued that all documentation should be strictly in Kannada, the official language of the state. “Even Maharashtra does not provide civic documents in Kannada to linguistic minorities,” he pointed out.</p><p>Members of the ruling group, including Hanumant Kongali and Girish Dhongadi, urged the corporators to follow the house agenda and wait for their turn to speak. BJP MLA Abhay Patil also intervened, stating that Salunke had submitted a notice and should speak only when granted permission by the Mayor.</p><p>As the argument escalated and the situation turned chaotic, Salunke, Mandolkar, and Bhatkande staged a walkout in protest. In response, Mayor Pawar adjourned the house for five minutes to restore order.</p><p>Later, MLA Abhay Patil criticised the conduct of the MES-backed corporators, accusing them of creating disruptions for media attention. He asked Congress MLA Asif Sait to intervene and take responsibility, pointing out that the three corporators were part of the Congress-led opposition group.</p><p>“If the opposition continues to take such a stand on language, the ruling party will be forced to respond similarly on state matters,” Patil warned.</p><p>MLA Asif Sait assured the house that he would speak to the MES-backed corporators and attempt to resolve the issue internally.</p>
