'We support the arrests'

Pro-Kannada groups say the government did the right thing by getting prominent Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi leaders arrested

Pro-Kannada groups say the government did the right thing by getting prominent Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi leaders arrested

The Karnataka government, which was soft-pedaling on Marathi protestors for political reasons, arrested Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi (MES) leaders Manohar Tinaikar and Vijay More yesterday.

"The BJP, by virtue of its political ideology, is sympathetic to the MES and it did not want to hurt its Marathi vote bank in Belgaum," explained Praveen Shetty, president of a splinter group of Kannada Rakshana Vedike, a pro-Kannada organisation. "We support the arrest of these leaders."

Kannada Rakshana Vedike (KRV) members staged their protest over Belgaum issue. KRV activists also burnt an effigy of Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi leader at Bannappa Park yesterday.

A source in Belgaum said more arrests were likely to be made in the days ahead and other leaders, including TK Patil were likely to be arrested.

MES launched a protest, last week, after the union government submitted a revised affidavit, to the Supreme Court that described Belgaum as a part of Karnataka.
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It reached a flash point, on Monday, when police resorted to lathi charge on MES workers following their attempt to hoist Bhagawa dhwaj, a saffron flag atop the Belguam Corporation building.
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The protests spread to Maharashtra where several buses from Karnataka were set ablaze following which KSRTC, the state-owned transport service, stopped all services to Maharashtra.

Pro-Kannada organisations had been up in arms against the BJP government for not taking action against MES leaders, who were allegedly instigating riots.

Some of theu00a0 organisations even took out rallies in Bangalore against the state government. The situation grew potentially volatile forcing the government to step in.
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"It is not that we are afraid of anyone or that our actions are politically motivated," explained S Suresh Kumar, the law minister.
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"When the police were convinced that the situation would spiral out of control, they arrested the leaders," he added.

Voices

No government should play politics on the issue. Belgaum is and will remain a part of Karnataka and the union government affidavit only echoes the fact mentioned in the Mahajan report. It is highly condemnable if the Shiv Sena or MES indulge in violence over the issue.

Mukhyamanthri Chandru,
chairman, Kannada Development Authority

The state government must show its grit and determination in the issue. Belgaum is an integral part of Karnataka and anybody wants live there must respect our sentiments otherwise they are free to go to Maharashtra or elsewhere.

Praveen Shetty, president,
splinter group of Karnakata Rakshana Vedike