Civic body defers passing resolution on Mahajan panel recommendation

On Tuesday, the Belagavi City Corporation decided to postpone a resolution defending the Mahajan Commission recommendation on the city being an integral part of Karnataka. This is the second time this year that the city corporation has delayed passing the resolution. During the delayed meeting, Congress members demanded the adoption of the resolution in favor of Karnataka.

However, Mayor Preeti Kamkar and Deputy Mayor Hanumant Kongali stated that they would only address the issue after receiving clear instructions from the State government. Kongali mentioned that the corporation had sent a reference to the State government regarding the resolution, but no response had been received yet. The Congress and government-nominated members in the Opposition disagreed, insisting that the resolution affirming Belagavi's integral connection to Karnataka should be adopted during the current meeting.

They argued that there was no need to wait for the State government's instructions. MES members vehemently opposed the adoption of the resolution, leading to pro-Karnataka slogans being raised. Congress members expressed dissatisfaction with the BJP members' silence on the issue. The corporation's commitment to the Supreme Court's decision on the Mahajan Commission was emphasized, with Ramesh Sontakke calling for the House to correct a previous wrong by passing a resolution against the Mahajan Commission twenty years ago.

Mayor Preeti Kamkar ruled that the Belagavi Municipal Corporation is under the Karnataka government, but Congress members vehemently opposed her ruling, calling it unclear. Dinesh Nashipudi, Mustaq Mulla, and others walked out of the meeting in protest. Mayor Preeti Kamkar adjourned the meeting and left the premises. Kannada organizations staged a protest outside the corporation office, demanding the passage of the pro-Karnataka resolution.

This protest has been ongoing since March 26, and Ashok Chandargi, the convenor of the central committee of Kannada organizations, emphasized that the struggle would continue until the resolution is passed in the municipal corporation.