BELAGAVI: Tension prevailed in the border areas of Belagavi on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border after members of the Maharastra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) and Nationalist Congress Party staged a protest on Monday demanding they be allowed into Belagavi.
The Belagavi police have denied permission to MES to conduct its Maha Melava at the Vaccine Depot ground in Tilakwadi and clamped prohibitory orders in Tilakwadi police station jurisdiction. Members of the MES and the NCP staged a protest at the Kognoli toll plaza.
Police said they have removed the pavilion set up for the event in the Vaccine Depot area. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of IPC has been imposed in the area and heavy security has been deployed at the site of the MES convention, which was scheduled to take place on the first day of the winter session of the Assembly on Monday.
Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, (ADGP) Alok Kumar visited the Tilakwadi area and took stock of the situation. “The MES had planned for a protest and demanded the entry of Maharashtra ministers into Karnataka. But the Chief Minister has clearly said that no one will be allowed”, he said.
According to police, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has made it clear that no ministers from Maharashtra will be allowed entry into Belagavi.
The Maharastra Ekikaran Samiti staged a protest after the authorities in Karnataka denied permission to allow a few leaders from Maharashtra into Belagavi. Supporters of MES claim that Belagavi belongs to Maharashtra and should be given to Maharashtra.
“Belagavi belongs to Maharashtra. Some MLAs and ministers from Maharashtra wanted to come to Belagavi. But authorities denied permission to them. That is why we are protesting”, supporters of MES said. (ANI)