Kannada organisations seek action against BCC for delaying resolution on Mahajan commission

Kannada organisations have urged the government to take legal action against the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) if it fails to pass a resolution favouring the Mahajan Commission recommendations, about Belagavi being an integral part of Karnataka.

A delegation of leaders from various organisations met Minister for Urban Development Yathindra Siddaramaiah and urged him to take action against the BCC for delaying such a resolution.

“Four months ago, a member introduced a resolution in the BCC general body meeting, saying Belagavi was an integral part of Karnataka. But it was not passed at the meeting. The Kannada organisations protested against this, but in vain. Our repeated pleas have been ignored,” said Ashok Chandargi, convenor of the central committee of Kannada organisations.

“Preeti Kamkar, Mayor of the BCC, had referred the matter to the State government, seeking a legal opinion on this issue, though there was absolutely no need for it. The government expressed its opinion that there was no legal hurdle to pass such a resolution. Chief Secretary’s office said passing the resolution was ‘necessary and essential’. At a meeting with the Kannada organisations in Belagavi, Mohan Kataraki, senior advocate in the Supreme Court, said there was no legal hurdles to such a resolution,” Mr. Chandaragi said.

Justice Nagamohan Das, chairman of Karnataka State border and river protection commission, also expressed a similar opinion. But then, the BCC did not pass it. What is more, the Mayor failed to call a meeting of the body despite the Kannada organisations have been protesting against this indifference. During a massive protest in which leaders like Vatal Nagaraj participated, activists were arrested by the city police. The BCC’s stand is unacceptable, he said.

Some of the activists demanded that the urban local body be superseded, while others urged the government to stop the flow of funds till it passed the resolution.

The Minister responded by saying that there was no confusion about the matter. “Belagavi has always been and remains an integral part of Karnataka. There is no confusion on this issue. My stand on this issue is clear,” Mr. Yathindra said.

He said his office had responded to a request for legal opinion from the BCC. “The State government has accepted the recommendations of the Justice M.C. Mahajan commission on the border issue that Belagavi is an integral part of Karnataka. There is no change in our stand. In the past, the State government has passed this resolution in the State legislature. This is a clear indication that there is no legal hurdle. When this is the stand of the State government, what can stop the BCC from passing such a resolution?,” he said.

He said he would consult Justice Nagamohan Das and understand the issue better. He said he would seek expert opinion on the instructions to be given to the BCC to pass a resolution.

Srinivas Talurkar, M.M. Makandar, Mahadev Talwar, Balaram Masenatti, Wajid Hirekodi and others were present.