BELGAUM: The Belgaum District Kannada Organisations' Action Committee has demanded that the State Government strengthen laws against "anti-Karnataka" activities in local bodies.

With the results of the elections to the taluk panchayats of Belgaum and Khanapur held in December 2005 going in favour of Marathi-speaking candidates affiliated to the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi, Kannada leaders are upset over what this could mean for the struggle to retain Belgaum in Karnataka.

MES candidates have always had an upper hand in the Belgaum City Corporation ever since it came into existence. But they were a divided house for over five years and united during the last mayoral elections. Political observers see this renewed unity among MES candidates as a decisive step to regain the Belgaum Assembly seat, which was lost to a Kannadiga in the last two elections.

Leaders of the action committee, who met Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and submitted a list of demands on development projects for Belgaum city, stressed the need to strengthen laws to ensure that anti-Karnataka activities are not allowed in local bodies. They also sought action against local bodies that adopt resolutions pertaining to the border dispute. They have urged the Government to initiate measures to check the influence of Marathi by appointing "committed Kannada officers" in the border areas.

Drawing attention to the desire of the Kannadigas people to see the Kannada flag flying atop the Belgaum City Corporation office, the action committee urged the Chief Minister to take steps to hoist the Kannada flag atop the building. The corporation council was superseded in November 2005 and the Deputy Commissioner has been appointed its Administrator. Presently, a "Bhagva" (saffron flag) that symbolises "Marathi asmita" greets visitors.

Unlike some self-proclaimed protectors of Kannada from outside the district who visit the city and clandestinely hoist the Kannada flag in taluk panchayats and harm linguistic harmony, the action committee has refrained from taking such a course in the interest of peace.

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