Kannada groups withdraw threat to boycott Rajyotsava

The Belagavi District Kannada Organisations’ Action Committee withdrew its threat of not participating in the government ceremonies for Karnataka Rajyotsava day, after being requested by Justice V.S. Malimath, chairman of the Karnataka Border Protection Commission, here on Monday.

The decision was taken when Mr. Malimath took the responsibility of making the State government take not of their grievances. Mr. Malimath expressed his concerns over the indifferent attitude of the government towards the genuine issues of Kannada organisations.

Commission member Jinadatt Desai was present.

Mr. Malimath met leaders of Kannada organisations, which were irked by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s failure to convene a meeting to discuss burning issues of border areas of Belagavi and other parts of north Karnataka region, something he had promised in August.

Mr. Siddaramaiah had also promised to set up a political affairs committee under H.K. Patil, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj; and ensure the renaming of Belgaum to “Belagavi” was implemented. Action committee leaders Siddangouda Patil, Raghavendra Joshi, president Ashok Chandargi and Leader of the Opposition in Belagavi City Corporation Ramesh Sontakki observed that the continuing indifference of the Siddaramaiah government had “orphaned” Kannadigas of Belagavi.

No action was being taken by the police on illegal signboards installed by Marathi organisations in several localities in the city and villages of Belagavi district, claiming these areas were part of Maharashtra.