MES observes Black Day in Belagavi despite denied permission
The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti held a rally demanding the merger of several border areas with Maharashtra on Sunday.
The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) observed ‘Black Day’ in Belagavi on Sunday as an alternative to Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations, according to ThePrint.
The group held a rally from Sambhaji Garden to Maratha Mandir Kalyana Mantapa, where members raised slogans for the merger of Belagavi, Khanapur, Bidar, Bhalki, Karwar and Nipani with Maharashtra.
The event proceeded despite the district administration and the city police commissionerate denying permission for the rally.
Police detained Kannada activists who allegedly tried to enter the rally area, while pro-Kannada activists demanded action against those responsible for the unauthorised event.
The MES has long campaigned for the merger of Marathi-speaking villages and areas in the border region with Maharashtra and observes this day every year.
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru that all residents must respect the state and its laws, urging both Kannadigas and Marathi-speaking people to avoid taking the law into their own hands.