Seeks bilingual name boards, official documents in Marathi, and protection of linguistic rights
Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan, Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase, and MES leaders during the memorandum submission.
BELAGAVI
In a significant demonstration against the alleged forced imposition of Kannada in government affairs and across educational and commercial establishments, the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan on Monday, demanding protection for the linguistic rights of Marathi-speaking minorities.
Stating that Belagavi, being a border city, sees people from Goa and Maharashtra visiting for shopping and other work and facing huge inconvenience due to language constraints being imposed, the leaders have also appealed not to impose Kannada compulsion.
The memorandum called for the immediate reinstatement of bilingual name boards in Marathi and English — allegedly removed from municipal areas including Belagavi, Khanapur, Nipani, and Athani.
It also demanded the issuance of government circulars and official documents such as ration cards, Aadhaar, and land records in Marathi, alongside Kannada.
Originally, the MES had planned a large protest march, but police denied permission and advised a peaceful memorandum submission instead. Complying with the directive, hundreds of Marathi-speaking citizens assembled at the Deputy Commissioner’s office under the leadership of MES President and former MLA Manohar Kinekar.
Ahead of the submission, Kinekar briefed the Deputy Commissioner on their demands. Protesters raised slogans asking to stop the forced imposition of Kannada, while calling for the merger of Marathi-speaking border areas with Maharashtra.
Deputy Commissioner Roshan accepted the memorandum and assured the delegation of appropriate action. Police Commissioner Bhushan Gulabrao Borase was also present.
Key MES leaders present included Ramakant Konduskar, Malojirav Ashtekar, Prakash Margale, Ranjeet Chavan Patil, Shubham Shelke, Digambar Patil, Ravi Salunkhe, and others, along with supporters from across Belagavi district.
