From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jul 28: Asserting that the State Government was committed to protect the interests of Kannadigas in the State, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had declared that the State government has taken all measures to safeguard Kannada-speaking and other people residing in the State.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been clamped on border villages of Belgaum district to maintain law and order following removal ofa signboard at the entrance of Yellur village in Belgaum district.
The Belgaum district administration has removed the signboard "Maharashtra Rajya - Yellur" as per the order of the High Court of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah told reporters on Monday.
He said the police resorted to mild lathi-charge following violence by activists of the Marathi-speaking people in the village and subsequent attack on media personnel visited the village to cover the issue.
''The government has taken all steps to protect Kannada-speaking and people residing in the State. The government will take action against all those who take law into their own hands," he said.
Siddaramaiah made it clear that the government will not allow any hooliganism or goondagiri by the pro-Marathi activists in the border district of Belgaum.
Now, the Maharashtra EkikaranaSamithi(MES) has dropped its call to observe Belglaumbandh today (Monday), he said.
Shiv Sena terms ''terror," seeks Centre’s intervention
Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena has strongly condemned the police action against Marathi-speaking people in Yellur as an act of "terror" and sought the Centre’s intervention in the "disputed" region.
''It is the reign of goondas. Even we can do this goondagiri but we won’t do that. We demand that the Centre immediately declare the border area in Karnataka where 20 lakh Marathi—speaking people live, as Centrally administered region and appoint a Central representative as administrator," Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut told reporters in Mumbai.
''Brutal atrocities are going on in Belgaum against Marathi-speaking people merely over removal of a board. Is this the rule of law?," saidRaut, a RajyaSabha MP, after a meeting of the Shiv Sena-BJP led ‘Mahayuti’ (grand alliance) passed a resolution condemning the "assault" by Karnataka police.
Earlier, an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece, ‘Saamana,’ described the police action at Yellur in Belgaum district as an act of "terrorism" and sought the Centre’s intervention.