Kannada activists staged a protest in Belagavi on Wednesday against members of the Belagavi City Corporation council for failing to fulfil their demand of passing a resolution saying that Belagavi is an integral part of the State.

The activists have been demanding that the city corporation adopt a resolution saying that the Mahajan Commission report is final on the border dispute and binding on all States involved. The city corporation called a meeting to discuss the issue but it failed to pass a resolution.

The police arrested 50 protestors in front of the corporation office and released them later.

As the corporation meeting began, member Ramesh Sontakki raised the issue. But the three Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti members opposed it. BJP members deliberated it for a few minutes but they could not come to a conclusion.

Mayor Preeti Kamkar gave a ruling that the corporation could seek the State government’s opinion on the issue. The House then decided to refer the issue to the State government.

“Kannada organisations will stage protests across the State against the BJP,” convenor of the central committee of Kannada organisations Ashok Chandargi told reporters in Belagavi.

“In 2004, the MES was in majority in the corporation and its members passed a resolution saying that Belagavi should be merged with Maharashtra. Then, Kannada organisations brought pressure on the State government and got the city corporation superseded. Now that the BJP is in power, the corporation should have passed a resolution saying Belagavi is an integral part of the State. Deputy Mayor Hanumanth Kongali promised in the morning today that the resolution will be passed. But they did not pass it,” he said.

“Mr. Kongali is giving a lame excuse of getting the matter referred to the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. This is meaningless. It is a political issue and it is very much within the powers of the corporation to pass such a resolution,” he said.

“But the BJP did not have the courage to pass the resolution. This proves that the BJP does not care for the sentiments of Kannadigas. It is desperate for the votes of Marathi-speakers. We strongly condemn this. Kannada organisations in Bengaluru will start a protest in front of BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra’s house,” Mr. Chandargi said.

Activists Wajid Hirekodi, Srinivas Talukar and others were present.