Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations across Karnataka on Sunday were accompanied by police action at the Karnataka-Maharashtra border and an unauthorised Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti rally in Belagavi, where participants renewed their demand for the city and several border areas to be merged with Maharashtra.
Police stopped more than 50 Shiv Sena workers travelling from Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district to Belagavi for a ‘Black Day’ event at the Koganolli checkpost in Nipani taluk. The group was led by Vijay Devane, president of the Uddhav Thackeray faction’s Kolhapur district unit. The workers were stopped at the border and handed over to the Kagal police in Kolhapur district, according to the report.
In Belagavi, the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti held a ‘Black Day’ programme despite not receiving permission from the district administration. Participants organised a rally from Sambhaji Udyan on Mahadwar Road through Shahapur’s SPM Road, Mahatma Phule Road and Basaveshwar Circle before proceeding to the Marathi Mandir Kalyan Mandap near the railway overbridge.
The protesters raised slogans demanding that Belagavi, Khanapur, Bidar, Bhalki, Karwar and Nipani be included in Maharashtra. The rally took place alongside the official Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations, making Belagavi the main centre of the day’s language and territorial contestation.
Police also detained several leaders, including social activist M.S. Patil Naribol, who had planned to hoist a separate state flag at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle. The leaders had alleged that the Kalyana Karnataka region was being treated unfairly in development matters. They were later released, the report said.
Elsewhere, district administrations held flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades, cultural programmes and award functions to mark the 71st Karnataka Rajyotsava. In Dharwad, Deputy Commissioner Snehal drove the car of district in-charge minister Santosh Lad after the official programme and a press conference at the District Sahitya Bhavan. The vehicle travelled through KCD Circle and German Hospital Circle towards the deputy commissioner’s residence.
In Chikkamagaluru, Deputy Commissioner Bhanwar Singh Meena hoisted the flag in the absence of district in-charge minister K.J. George, who was reported to be unwell. Twenty-three contingents, including the police, Home Guards, Forest Department, NCC and students, took part in the parade.
At programmes in Dakshina Kannada, Minister U.T. Khader warned that inadequate rainfall could lead to drinking-water shortages as early as January and increase the impact of heat. He said the state would need to prepare for the effects of climate change. In Udupi, district in-charge minister Rizwan Arshad announced plans to develop an entertainment park and sports facilities on 7.07 acres at a cost of ₹48 crore at the Thrasi and Maravanthe beaches.
District-level celebrations were also held in Vijayapura, Gadag, Chikkaballapur, Kalaburagi, Kodagu, Mysuru, Raichur, Tumakuru and other locations. In Mysuru, 92 people received district-level Rajyotsava awards. In several districts, police, civic officials, students and cultural groups participated in parades and public programmes.
