Make Belagavi a centrally-administered region, declares sahitya sammelan

BELAGAVI: Fomenting the language and border row further, a Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held here has declared that either Belagavi should be declared a centrally-administered area or all official communication should be in Marathi language.

The Sammelan was held at Belagundi village in Belagavi taluk and was organised by the Ravalnath Panchakroshi Sahitya Academy on Sunday.

Speaking after inaugurating the sammelan, Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) leader Shivaji Suntkar said the Union government should declare the border area as centrally administered till the time the border row is resolved. Otherwise, all government communication should be given to Marathi-speaking people in that language only, he demanded.

The sammelan also declared that both the state and the Centre should issue notification in this regard. It also said that the Maharashtra government should allocate funds for holding Marathi Sahitya Sammelans.

Pro-Kannada organisations have expressed their anger over the declarations made at the sammelan and have demanded that action be taken against the organisers.