BELAGAVI: Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) is resolute in its plans to hold a ‘black day’ rally Friday to coincide with Kannada Rajyotsava, raising concerns of potential clashes with law enforcement.
Led by former MLA Manohar Kinekar and Deepak Dalavi, MES is urging Marathi-speaking people to join the silent protest, starting at Sambhaji Garden on Mahadwar Road, culminating in a gathering at Maratha Mandir.
The Karnataka high court issued notices on Wednesday to both the Belagavi district administration and Kinekar over a public interest litigation (PIL) aimed at halting the rally scheduled for November 1. The court has adjourned its hearing to Nov 5.
“I haven’t received any notice from the court. I don’t know anything about the court notice,” Kinekar told TOI while adding that the ‘black day’ rally would proceed as planned.
Sources in MES indicated that similar protests would be held in other places such as Khanapur and Nippani.
Meanwhile, police have stepped up security across the district. “There is no permission for a ‘black day’ rally of the MES. We urge the MES leaders and workers not to take the law into their hands. If the rally is taken out illegally, the law will take its course,” said deputy commissioner of police Rohan Jagadish. For over six decades, MES has been observing ‘black day’ on Nov 1 to protest the Central govt’s decision to keep Belagavi in Karnataka. MES continues to advocate for the merger of 865 villages along the Karnataka border with Maharashtra.