The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) staged a protest in Karnataka's Belagavi district on Monday, demanding that government documents and signboards be made available in Marathi. The protesters also tore copies of government orders that make Kannada the mandatory official language in the state.
Protest Details
According to reports, the MES activists gathered in Belagavi and raised slogans demanding the recognition of Marathi as an official language in the region. They urged authorities to stop the removal of Marathi signboards from government offices and public places. The protesters also submitted a memorandum to the district administration, calling for the implementation of the Mahajan Committee recommendations that had proposed the inclusion of Marathi-speaking areas in Maharashtra.
Background of the Language Dispute
The border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra has a long history, with the MES consistently advocating for the merger of Marathi-speaking villages in Belagavi, Khanapur, Nipani, and other areas into Maharashtra. The recent protest comes amid heightened tensions over language policies in Karnataka, where the state government has made Kannada compulsory in official communications and signage under the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act.
According to sources, the MES has been opposing the removal of Marathi signboards in Belagavi, which has a significant Marathi-speaking population. The protestors claimed that the government's actions are undermining the linguistic rights of the Marathi community.
Official Reactions
Karnataka's Home Minister stated that the state government is committed to implementing Kannada as the official language, but assured that the rights of linguistic minorities would be protected. "We respect all languages, but Kannada is our official language and must be used in all government work," he said. Meanwhile, Maharashtra's Chief Minister expressed solidarity with the MES, saying that the Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka should be given their due rights.
The protest is part of a series of demonstrations planned by the MES in the coming weeks to press for their demands. The organization has called for a bandh in Belagavi on July 1 to intensify the pressure on the Karnataka government.
