Police prevent Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti members from holding rally, detain activists

Belagavi: The city police on Monday prevented the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) from holding Maha Melava by detaining a handful of activists at Sambhaji Circle.

The MES activists hold Melava (rally) during the Winter Session of legislature, demanding merger of Belagavi and other Marathi-speaking areas like Nippani, Bidar, Bhalki and Karwar, with Maharashtra.

Activists started gathering at Sambhaji Circle despite the ban imposed by the district administration from holding the melava.The police arrested MES leaders and activists, including former MLAs Manohar Kinikar and Digambar Patil.
The Karnataka police stopped the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) activists, led by Kolhapur district president Vijay Devane, at the Koganalli check-post on the border. The Shiv Sainiks were on their way to Belagavi to extend support to the MES’ Maha Melava.

Shinde slams action against MES

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday condemned the “suppressive tactics” used by Karnataka police against activists of
Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti who were protesting in Belagavi.

“The stance of the Karnataka government to oppose Marathi-speaking people in the border areas is unjust,” Shinde said replying to a question by Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.  

“There was a positive discussion in the meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Despite this, if the Karnataka government is behaving in such a manner, we condemn it,” Shinde added.