The violence against Marathi speaking community at the hands of Karnataka police in Belgaum has drawn wide-spread condemnation and angry reactions across all parties in poll-bound Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena on Monday compared the police action with Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed’s acts. “As the state government in Maharashtra has proved its inability to tackle the issue, we expect the Centre to intervene against the Karnataka’s police forces who are terrorising Marathi community in Belgaum more than Saeed and Kasab,” said the Sena mouthpiece Saaamana’s editorial on Monday.
The controversy began two day ago after the officials of the Karnataka government removed a ‘Maharashtra Rajya’ plaque in Yellur village near Belgaum. The incident reignited the border dispute between two states, which is at present pending in the Supreme Court. A day after, the villagers re-installed the plaque. This act allegedly led to the clamp down of Karnataka police against the Marathi community on Sunday.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan too on Sunday evening called Siddaramaiah, his counter part in Karnataka and condemned the incident. “The matter is currently pending in the Supreme Court and it is necessary to abstain from such provocative actions,” Mr. Chavan told the Karnataka CM.
The Sena mouthpiece said that buildings of Karnataka Sangh and Bhavan are standing tall here. “A number of Kannadigas have their hotels and businesses in Mumbai. We haven’t touched them yet,” the editorial warned.
Congress leader Narayan Rane’s son Nitesh too has warned of ‘reaction’ in Mumbai. “It’s not about political parties. The Kanndigas are purposely targeting Marathi people. Do not test our patience,” he said.
BJP leader Vinod Tawde has asked K. G. Balakrishnan, the current head of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), to take strict action against the Karnataka's police force.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has called the incident as ‘unfortunate.’ Targeting the Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance which has 42 out of 48 MPs from Maharashtra, he said, “They should now speak against these atrocities. Raise the issue in parliament and tell the centre about what people in Belgaum want,” he said.