Kannada activist led by Vatal Nagraj protest against MES

Belagavi

The activists of various Kannada organisations, led by senior Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj, staged a protest. They demanded action against the Marathi people who attacked a bus conductor recently for speaking Kannada.

The activists of various Kannada organisations, who gathered at Rani Channamma Circle, blocked the road and shouted slogans against MES. The leaders, Vatal Nagaraj, Sa Ra Govindu, LR Shivarame Gowda and Rupesh Rajanna, who participated in the protest, garlanded the statue of Kittur Rani Channamma.

The protesters marched from Channamma Circle to the Deputy Commissioner and submitted a memorandum to the state government through the Deputy Commissioner. Kannada activists demanded a ban on Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) and strict action against miscreants trying to disturb peace in city.

Speaking to media, Vatal Nagaraj said that the Karnataka government does not know what is happening in Belagavi. Earlier, the Bommai government promised to ban MES. However, it did not materialise. Siddaramaiah government should immediately ban MES. Otherwise, he warned that they will not allow to hold next session of the Belagavi Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.

Three Ministers should sit in Suvarna Vidhana Soudha every month and review the situation here. Politicians of all parties here are MES agents. This is a very scary matter. We have given a Karnataka bandh call on March 22 to fulfil various demands, including Mahadayi and Mekedatu schemes, he said.

Sa Ra Govindu, a Kannada activist, said that Maharashtra politicians are abetting MES goons, while Karnataka politicians are nurturing them. MES should not continue in the state for any reason. It should be banned, he added.