MUMBAI: Politicians of Maharashtra on Monday reacted strongly to Karnataka Police’s “brutality” against Marathi speaking people at Yallur near Belgaum.
Police had caned the villagers at Yallur for reinstalling a signboard, which stated that the village was a part of Maharashtra. The Belgaum district administration had razed the signboard last week following a petition in Karnataka High Court against it.
Shiv Sena reiterated its demand that President’s rule be imposed in the disputed border areas in Karnataka. An editorial in the party’s mouthpiece ‘Saamna’ equated Karnataka Police with Pakistani terrorist Hafeez Saeed. “The Karnataka Police are goondas in khaki uniform. What they have done is nothing but high-handedness. We know many places in Mumbai which are related with Karnataka but we have maintained peace,” Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said.
The BJP condemned Karnataka Police and demanded action against the guilty officers. Leader of Opposition Vinod Tawde dashed off a letter to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) demanding a thorough inquiry into the incident.
“Police pelted stones at the residents and trespassed into their houses. They beat women and children for no reason. This is barbaric. I am going to meet Rajnath Singh over the issue on Wednesday,” Tawde said.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray targeted the Union government over the issue. “If such a thing had happened with migrants in Maharashtra the Union government would have made it a big issue. Why are they silent now?” he asked.
CM Prithviraj Chavan registered his protest to Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah on the issue. “The canning of police is a violation of the people’s constitutional rights,” Chavan said.