Belgaum: Despite being rebuked by the State Cabinet, Belgaum Mayor Vijay More on Saturday defended by the Council's resolution supporting the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi's demand for transfer of Belgaum and Nippani to Maharashtra.

The BCC Council on Thursday adopted the resolution moved by former Mayor Shivaji Sunthakar.

Mr. More told that he has not committed anything wrong by allowing the resolution, described as illegal by the State Cabinet. He said all the Marathi-speaking corporators have been elected only because of their commitment to the long-pending struggle for transfer of Belgaum, Nippani and Khanapur to Maharashtra. These resolutions are only re-assertions of their feelings and demand to that effect, which the government has not bothered to resolve for over four decades. "No Marathi Mayor can go against these sentiments and `Marathi asmita' (self-respect)," he said.

Mr. Mayor said that as a mayor of the MES, he has the moral responsibility to carry forward its struggle against the injustice done to Marathi-speaking people. Therefore, the question of withdrawing the resolution does not arise, even if the Cabinet has termed as illegal, he said.

"We have not done anything illegal. The resolution is only a reiteration of the sentiments of the Marathi-speaking community here intended to draw the attention of the all the concerned to find a solution to the long pending row at the earliest," he said.

"If the government wants to supersede (the BCC Council), let us see how will it do," he said and said that the BCC had not received any notice from the Cabinet or the Government till Saturday evening.

Call for black day

In the meanwhile, the MES has given a call to Marathi-speaking people in city to observe Karnataka Rajyotsava day as "black day" on November 1. The MES has been observing this day as black day every year but the response has decreased in the last couple of years.

The MES is preparing to exhibit its strength once again and demonstrate a big show of unity that day when hundreds of its supporters sporting black badges and flags will take out a "silent cycle rally".

Rumours over resignation

The city was agog with rumours of at least three Kannada corporators — former Deputy Mayor Satish Gorgonda, N.B. Nirwani and Jayashree Malgi — resigning from their posts on Saturday.

However, the Mayor and Commissioner K.D. Birje denied any corporator having submitted their papers till 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Veteran Kannada leader Siddangouda Patil told The Hindu that Mr. Nirwani called him on telephone in the morning and intended to submit their resignation papers to him (Mr. Patil). But, Mr. Nirwani they did not turn up till late in the evening on Saturday.

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