Kolhapur, Oct 31: On the backdrop of ‘Black-day’ agitation in Belgaum district and other disputed border areas in Karnataka state on November 1 by Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), the district administration issued a ban order to restrict entry to Maharashtra state’s three ministers and a MP in Belgaum district of Karnataka state for three days from Tuesday morning.
Belgaum district collector Nitesh Patil issued an order to ban entries in Belgaum for three days from Tuesday morning (0600hours) to three Maharashtra state ministers—Chandrakant Patil, Deepak Kesarkar, and Shambhu Raj Desai—and Hatkanagale Loksabha constituency MP Dharysheel Mane, who are likely to participate in tomorrow’s agitation, to maintain the law and order situation in the district.
MES leaders and workers observed ‘black day’ on November 1 every year on the foundation day of Karnataka state to mark the tribute of martyrs who protested over the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka state and demanded to include Marathi-speaking disputed areas of Karnataka state in Maharashtra state.
On the possibility of affecting the law and order situation in Belgaum district, the Belgaum district superintendent of police recommended to the district collector the issue of a ban order to three Maharashtra state ministers and a MP, who are likely to participate in the agitation tomorrow to express their support for the Marathi-speaking people’s agitation for the long-pending demand of the inclusion of disputed border areas in Maharashtra state.
