Ban placed on entry of 3 Maha ministers, 1 MP in Belagavi

Bengaluru/Belagavi, NT Bureau: The Belagavi administration has banned three Maharashtra ministers and an MP from entering this border district, as they are expected to participate in the "black day" event organised by Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) on November 1, on the occasion of Karnataka formation day.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has warned them of legal action, in case they indulge in activities or make statements that are against Karnataka or Kannada.

Maharashtra Ministers Shambhuraje Desai, Chandrakant Patil, Deepak Kesarkar and MP Dhairyasheel Mane are expected to attend the MES event, official sources said.

MES, which has been fighting for the merger of several Marathi speaking areas and villages of the state with Maharashtra for long, observes 'Karnataka Rajyotsava' as a black day every year.

They had met Maharashtra CM Ekanath Shinde at Kolhapur, seeking his support on the boundary issue and requesting that he send representatives to take part in the MES event.

Officials foresee the chances of them making instigative speeches during the visit. Also Kannada activists could gherao them.