The central committee of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) has resolved to escalate its agitation against the compulsory installation of Kannada signboards in Belagavi and the border region. The committee has announced a march to the deputy commissioner's office on June 22 and a dharna outside the residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on June 29.
Decisions Taken at Central Committee Meeting
The decisions were reached during a meeting of the MES Central Committee held at Maratha Mandir in Belagavi on Saturday evening. Addressing the gathering, Central Committee chairman Prakash Margale voiced deep concern over the mounting pressure to erect Kannada signboards in recent months, asserting that this trend must be halted. He emphasized that the planned march and subsequent protest are intended to draw the attention of both the Karnataka and Maharashtra governments to the anxieties of Marathi-speaking residents in the region.
Delegation to Submit Memorandum
Margale stated that prior to the June 22 march, a delegation would meet with the deputy commissioner to submit a memorandum demanding the installation of bilingual Kannada-Marathi signboards at government offices, hospitals, and other public institutions. He appealed to Marathi-speaking residents to participate in large numbers in the march. The committee will also formally inform Chief Minister Fadnavis about the proposed Mumbai protest through a letter.
Support from MES Constituent Units
Former MLA Manohar Kinekar affirmed that all constituent units of the MES would work diligently to ensure the success of the planned agitations. Khanapur Taluk Committee general secretary Abasaheb Dalvi, Ranjit Patil, and several other office-bearers also shared their perspectives during the meeting, underscoring the unity and resolve of the organization.
