In a first, Rajyotsava on Belagavi Corpn premises

The Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) on Thursday set a new precedent by celebrating the 63rd Kannada Rajyotsava at the Corporation hall.

All these years, mayors participated in the Rajyotsava celebration organised by the district administration without holding any celebration at the Corporation premises.

In the past, about six Kannadigas were mayors, but they did not give a thought to hold the celebration at the corporation office. It is Basappa Chikkaldinni, a Kannadiga, conceived and successfully implemented initiative in his capacity as the mayor.

Deputy Mayor Madhushri Pujari, an independent corporator, but backed by the MES, was also present. Interestingly, she was also present for the Black Day rally rally organised by the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) leaders.

The MES too out the rally seeking inclusion of Karnataka’s Marathi speaking areas into Maharashtra, but there was lukewarm response.

The police used canes mildly at Goavea when a section of the MES activists pelted stones at a Rajyotsava procession.