Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar turned a rally “for unity among border residents” into an election campaign meeting for the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti in Belagavi on Saturday.
Mr. Pawar sought votes for MES candidates saying that would strengthen the case of Belagavi’s merger with Maharashtra in the Supreme Court.
“A case regarding the border dispute is pending in the Supreme Court. Leaders from Maharashtra like me are supporting the case in every possible way. Maharashtra government has also been supporting the case. However, what can be done to strengthen the case even further?,’’ he asked the crowd. “Nothing will be achieved by clapping. The case will be strengthened only when you send as many MES MLAs as possible to the Karnataka Assembly. Then we can tell the Supreme Court and the Union government that the people’s will is being expressed this way,” he said.
He had a word of advice for MES that is suffering from problems like dissidence and groupism. This was indicated by the absence of MES MLA Sambhaji Patil in the rally.
“All leaders fighting for the merger of Belagavi with Maharashtra should remain united. There should not be differences between MES leaders. I can assure you that if you remain united, there is nothing that you cannot accomplish.’
“The common man is honest. He does not want any power. He only wants to be able to speak Marathi and love among his Marathi brothers,’’ Mr Pawar said. He claimed the people of Bhalki and Bidar also wanted to merge with Maharashtra.
Mr. Pawar said he had no hatred for Kannada or Karnataka. “I respect all languages. I don't hate any of them, including Kannada. But we want the same respect from the other side. People in Karnataka should develop the same respect for other languages, including Marathi,’’ he said. “Karnataka is like my brother. I have released water from the Koyna dam to help farmers in Karnataka,’’ he said.
Mr. Pawar was felicitated by Madhyavarti Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti in CPEd grounds in Belagavi on Saturday. Samiti leaders Krishna Menase , N.D. Patil, Deputy Mayor Madhushree Pujari and others were present. Mr. Pawar, in turn, felicitated some leaders who had fought for Marathi and other causes. They included Kishan Rao Yellurkar, Ram Apte and Krishna Menase.
