Latest news with #LinguisticMinoritiesAct
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
MES stages protest against alleged imposition of Kannada on signboards in Belagavi
Belagavi: Hundreds of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) activists staged a protest at the deputy commissioner's office here on Monday, opposing what they described as the 'forceful imposition' of Kannada on signboards across Belagavi city. Originally, MES planned a protest march from Sambhaji Chowk to the DC office via Channamma Circle. However, after city police denied permission for the rally, protesters assembled directly at the DC office premises and submitted a memorandum to DC Mohammad Roshan. Speaking while submitting the memorandum, MES President and former MLA Manohar Kinekar demanded the restoration of signboards in Marathi and English that were allegedly removed by Belagavi City Corporation (BCC). He also urged the administration to ensure bilingual signage—Kannada and Marathi—in govt offices and to provide official documents in Marathi, citing provisions under the Linguistic Minorities Act. Kinekar warned that MES would launch a large-scale agitation if their demands were not met within a month. In a related development, MES president Manohar Kinekar assured the district administration that the organisation would not escalate the language issue during the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Deccan Herald
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
MES protest over Kannada implementation fizzles out
Belagavi: Aprotest organised by the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) on Monday, opposing the implementation of Kannada in government affairs, witnessed a poor turnout, with only a handful of activists and office-bearers gathering at the deputy commissioner's office earlier claims of a large-scale demonstration and widespread mobilisation in Belagavi and Khanapur taluks, the protest failed to draw the expected crowds. MES had planned a rally from Sambhaji Circle to the deputy commissioner's office, but the city police denied permission for the few who did assemble raised slogans demanding the use of Marathi in government documents and signage, in accordance with the provisions of the Linguistic Minorities Act. They also displayed placards demanding the merger of Marathi-speaking areas of Karnataka with Maharashtra, shouting slogans such as 'We will live in Maharashtra or in jail', while also referring to the government as 'nalayak' (incompetent).The MES leaders urged that government documents and signboards in areas with more than 15% Marathi-speaking population, including Belagavi and Khanapur taluks, should be made available in Marathi.'Reinstate Marathi signboards'MES Working President and former MLA Manohar Kinekar alleged that following the visit of Kannada Development Authority Chairman Purushottam Bilimale to the Belagavi City Corporation, all signboards in Marathi had been removed. He demanded their reinstatement and called for the use of Marathi on official vehicles of the mayor and deputy mayor, as well as on all government communication. He warned that MES would intensify its protest if these demands were not met within a City Corporation corporator Ravi Salunke said the Karnataka-Maharashtra boundary dispute is still pending in the Supreme Court, and that the implementation of Kannada in disputed regions should be halted until the matter is resolved.A memorandum listing MES's demands was submitted to Deputy Commissioner Mohammad leaders Malojirao Ashtekar, former MLA Digambar Patil, R M Chougule, Vikas Kalghatgi, Ranjit Chavan Patil, Amar Yellurkar, Prakash Margale, Shubham Shelke, Ramakant Konduskar and others were present.
Deccan Herald
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
MES rakes up Marathi language demand ahead of local polls
Belagavi: At a time when different linguistic communities are learning the state language Kannada and joining the mainstream, the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) has once again stirred controversy by demanding official documents in Marathi in the border areas and opposing the implementation of Kannada, the state's official language. The move is being seen as a politically motivated attempt to polarise voters ahead of the upcoming Taluk and Zilla Panchayat losing much of its influence in recent years, MES has revived its longstanding demand for the use of Marathi in government communication, citing provisions of the Linguistic Minorities Act. While earlier the group restricted its appeals to the district administration, recently they have begun to make demands to the elected representatives of political parties recent developments, MES leaders met Public Works Department and Belagavi District In-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi in Gokak and Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar in Belagavi, urging them to implement the use of Marathi in official documents. They warned that Marathi-speaking voters form a significant portion of the electorate in Yamakanamaradi and Belgaum Rural Assembly constituencies, represented by the two ministers, and their demand should be taken linguistic sentimentsPolitical observers believe the MES is trying to reignite linguistic sentiments and consolidate its base in Belagavi and Khanapur taluks ahead of the local body polls. However, their efforts during the Belagavi City Corporation elections failed, as Marathi-speaking voters chose BJP and Congress candidates over MES-backed ones, signaling a decline in support for the pro-Maharashtra State Border Areas Development Authority member Ashok Chandargi cautioned political leaders against yielding to MES pressure, stating, 'For political gains, leaders should not compromise on the interests of Kannada. Pro-Kannada voters are in large numbers and will not take such actions lightly.'Legal action soughtIn a recent meeting chaired by Tourism, Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Boundary Areas In-charge Minister H K Patil, Kannada activists reiterated their demand for a ban on MES and sought legal action against its leaders for attempting to sow linguistic discord. They pointed out that Kannada-speaking people in Maharashtra are not given similar linguistic privileges and have learned Marathi to integrate into the Patil assured that there would be no rollback in the implementation of Kannada in the state's administration. The district administration has also briefed MES representatives about the scope and limitations of the Linguistic Minorities Act.
