Ban MES! Kannada pride to the fore

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Hundreds of pro-Kannada activists from across the state descended on Belagavi City on Monday to protest against the vandalizing of the statue of freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna and the damaging of over a dozen Karnataka government vehicles in Belagavi. The vandalism happened following the alleged blackening of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji in Bengaluru which was an alleged act of revenge for the burning of the state flag of Karnataka by Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti(MES) activists.

The attempts made by the Kannada activists to lay siege to Suvarna Vidhana Soudha were foiled by the police in view of the ongoing winter session of the State Legislature and they were bundled into vans. The activists are demanding a ban on MES.

Ban orders extended

Meanwhile, Belagavi City Police Commissioner Thyagarajan has extended prohibitory orders under Sec 144 of CrPC till 6 am on December 22 following reports of more Kannada organisations coming to Belagavi city to show their solidarity on the issue of land, language and culture of Karnataka. Security had been tightened all over the district as a precautionary measure.

State machinery has collapsed Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah visited the site on Monday where Rayanna’s statue was reinstalled on Sunday. Kannada activists re-installed the statue amid tight police security with the followers of the freedom fighter performing milk abhishekam on the statue of the Kannada legend who was a trusted lieutenant of Rani Chennamma of Kittur. Siddaramaiah garlanded Rayanna’s statue and offered prayers.

Talking to the media, the Congress leader said law and order machinery has collapsed in the state adding that the government had failed to prevent violence. The Intelligence Department has ceased to exist and the government had no control over the administration. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bomai must exhibit his will power by banning Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti which repeatedly spoils peace and harmony in the border district, he said.

Decisive action

Meanwhile, CM Bommai said the state government will take decisive steps to stop vandalism. Stringent action will be initiated against those who take the law into their hands, he said.

“The perpetrators of the vandalism have already been arrested. We will not allow hooliganism to continue. The home secretary and DGP have taken up the issue with their Maharashtra counterparts to protect the life and property of Kannadigas in Maharashtra, and provide security to Karnataka government vehicles,” he said.