BELAGAVI: Mayor Sarita Patil and her Deputy Sanjay Shinde who participated in the ‘Black Day’ protest organised by pro-Maharashtrians on November 1 have reportedly gone ‘missing’.
The first and the second citizens’ of the border city have left behind their official vehicles on the corporation premises, told the commissioner that they were going out of town and asked the officials and the drivers not to contact them at any cost.
Sources told Express that the duo have left for Maharashtra, mostly to Kolhapur, fearing backlash from Kannada organisations. Sources added they are in touch with the leaders of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti.
The participation of the duo in the ‘Black Day’ parade was considered as an anti-state activity and there was a possibility of Kannada organisations filing criminal cases against them. The state government has taken serious exception to the mayor and deputy mayor participating in the protest rally against Karnataka
Rajyotsava and the CM sought a report from the DC in this regard. As pro-Kannada outfits have planned to blacken faces of Patil and Shinde, they have left the town in fear, sources said. However, sources added the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor are expected to come back to Belagavi in two or three days.
A Kannada activist had filed a criminal case against former mayor Manda Balekundri with Market police for participating in the ‘Black Day’ protest in the past.
Meanwhile, the district administration which was told to submit a report on the ‘Black Day’ protest, is discussing it with legal experts to find out whether the duo have violated any Constitutional norms as they are elected representatives.