Maharashtra MLAs support Belgaum protestors

Members of the Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday took out a protest march to Azad Maidan to express solidarity with the Marathi-speaking population of Belgaum who have been demanding merger of district with Maharashtra.

They demanded that Belgaum and other Karnataka villages that abut Maharashtra, be merged with the latter. 

Earlier in the day, Peasants and Workers Party member Jayant Patil raised the contentious issue in the Upper House, following which Nationalist Congress Party leader Hemant Takle informed Chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh that the Lower House has been adjourned since members, cutting across party lines, have marched towards Azad Maidan in support of the “merger” demand. 

Leader of Opposition Vinod Tawade then opined that Upper House members should also join the Marathi-speaking population of Belgaum in their quest for the merger. Deshmukh told the House: “They have been carrying out struggle for the past 56 years and it's important that they know that their struggle is not in vain but members from both the benches are behind them.”  

He also directed the state government to take up the matter with the Centre and find a solution to the issue as early as possible.