However, 10 Kannada and Urdu-speaking corporators, who identified themselves with the MES group, voted in favour of the motion.
A council meeting held in this connection on September 22 last was adjourned after a ruckus in the House, and the meeting was rescheduled for Wednesday.
At the Wednesday’s meeting, Marathi-speaking corporator Sambhaji Chavan, who had opposed the motion earlier too, said he was not against congratulating Kambar, but his statements advocating Kannada medium education in Belgaum schools.
Marathi-speaking people live in large numbers in the border areas of the State, and Kannada medium education cannot be forced on them, he said.
He criticised the mayor and the deputy mayor for daring Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda to supersede the Corporation and for replying to the government’s notices.
Former mayor Sambhaji Patil also opposed Kambar’s stand on Kannada education. Urdu-speaking member Latifkhan Pathan, who identified himself with the MES, demanded that the motion to congratulate Kambar be passed, as the writer was from Belgaum and the people of the district were proud of his feat.
While Kannada-speaking corporator Rajan Hulbatte, a supporter of the MES, backed Pathan, MES corporator Netaji Jadhav demanded that the motion be put to vote.
