Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi Activists Attacked in Karnataka

BANGALORE, Mar 31 (PTI): More than 50 Karnataka Rakshna Vedike (KRV) activists were taken into custody when they attempted to attack Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi (MES) and other Corporators of Belgaum City Corporation today.

MES and other Corporators, had arrived here to submit a petition against outgoing Mayor Yallappa Kurubar's announcement of N B Nirvani as the new Mayor in the yesterday's election. They alleged that the nominations of other Corporators were rejected to pave way for the election of a 'Kannadiga' as Mayor for the first time in the history.

Police intervened in time and prevented KRV workers who tried to attack the Belgaum corporators. Later, the corporators submitted memoranda to Belgaum District Incharge Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Minister for Law Suresh Kumar.

Corporator A Khan who strongly condemned the attack told newsmen that in the delegation of about 35 Corporators comprised not only MES but other parties also. Seven corporators were in the fray for the Mayoral post after six others withdrew their nominations.

But Kurbar rejected the nominations of six others on technical grounds and announced that Mr Nirvani was elected unanimously.

The KRV activitists pelted stones and broke window panes at the residences of minister Suresh Kumar and Basavaraj Bommai.

Pandemonium prevailed in the Council Hall during the election. Women councillors allegedly brandished their footwear and bangles on the newly elected Mayor's face.

Maharashtra Assembly Adjourned to Show Solidarity to Marathis in Belgaum

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was adjourned for ten minutes on Wednesday in protest against the arbitrary rejection of nomination papers of six Marathi candidates for the Mayor elections in the Belgaum Municipal Corporation. 

PWP member Ganpatrao Deshmukh had moved an adjournment notice on this issue which was disallowed by the chair. But, Deshmukh said the house can atleast adjourn for ten minutes as a mark of protest.

The demand was accepted by Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil. Deshmukh and other members expressed resentment over the rejection of nomination papers of Marathi speaking corporators which resulted in the installation of non-Marathi Mayor.

Jeetendra Avhad (NCP), speaking on point of propriety wanted the house to have a debate on the issue to express solidarity with the Marathi speaking population of Belgaum. He described the developments during the mayor elections in Belgaum as "unfortunate".

Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP) demanded that an all party delegation should meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on this matter. Intervening, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said there is no doubt that injustice is meted out to the Marathi speaking people in Belgaum and other nearby areas.

"I will write to the Karnataka Chief Minister to register a protest on the issue. All other parties should also express their protest against the incident with the Karnataka government," he said referring to the BJP.