Marathi speaking people observe black day in Belagavi

THE GOAN NETWORK

BELAGAVI

While pomp, splendour and revelry marked the celebration of the 60th Karnataka Rajyotsava Day in the city on Tuesday, the Marathi speaking people under the banner of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti observed the day as ‘Black Day’ in Belagavi.

The district administration and the Kannadigas observed the day with processions and public rallies, while a silent procession and a public rally marked the black day observed by the Marathi speaking people.

The Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations took off at the CPEd ground on Club Road. Small Scale Industries Minister and District In-charge Ramesh Jarkiholi inaugurated the festival. After unfurling the National Flag, the minister flagged off a rally consisting of tableaux depicting various facets of developments and progress by Karnataka.

The dignitaries walked up to the Rani Channamma Circle in the heart of the city and garlanded the statue of Rani Channamma, queen of the erstwhile princely state of Kittur.

Contingents representing Kannada and social organisations joined the celebrations. The Kannadigas were seen dancing and cheering to music from the otherwise banned Dolby sound systems as the city was flooded with Kannada flags while major government offices and road junctions were illuminated.

Meanwhile, the MES like every year observed the day as ‘Black Day’ to protest against the injustice meted out to the Marathi speaking people in the border areas. MES leaders MLA Sambhaji Patil, Mayor Sarita Patil and other leaders who boycotted the official celebrations took part in the black day rally.

Belagavi Taluka MES president Manohar Kinekar and others led a rally parallel to the Rajyotsava celebrations. Like every year, the protest rally and a public meeting was organised in protest against inclusion of Marathi-dominated towns and villages, including Belagavi city, in Karnataka and in support of transfer of Bidar, Bhalki, Nippani, Belagavi, Khanapur, Karwar and about 800 villages and towns along the boundary to Maharashtra.

Sporting black T shirts, ribbons and furling black flags, Marathi leaders from Kolhapur and Sangli districts of Maharashtra also participated in the rally.

At the public meeting, the MES leaders reiterated their demand for early verdict on the boundary dispute pending before the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, tension prevailed in the city after scattered incidents of stone pelting, however, the situation was brought under control by the police.