Karnataka: Clamour for banning Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti grows; Congress divided

BENGALURU: Congress, the principal opposition in Karnataka, appears to be divided over the demand to ban Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) at a time when pro-Kannada organisations have given a week’s ultimatum and threatened a bandh call if the outfit isn’t banned.
Various organisations, including Kannada Okkuta and Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, and several legislators have urged the government to ban MES on charges of inciting unrest over Kannada-Marathi language issue in Belagavi and banish the miscreants involved in the discretion of statues of national heroes such as Sangolli Rayanna, Chhatrapati Shivaji and 12th century social reformer-poet Basavanna.
Kannada Okkuta has given an ultimatum to the government till the end of the ongoing winter session in Belagavi to ban MES, failing which the organisation plans to call for a Karnataka bandh. Leaders of Okkuta are meeting in Bengaluru on Wednesday to chart out the protest plan.
“The government must show its resolve to contain the anti-national elements in Belagavi and ban MES before the winter session ends. We will have to resort to a statewide agitation and give a bandh call, if the government dithers on punishing the miscreants,” said Sa Ra Govindu, working-president of Kannada Okkuta.
The Karnataka Rajya Hindulida Vargagala Jagrutha Vedike will take out a rally on Friday in Bengaluru to protest the vandalisation of Sangolli Rayanna statue.
However, unlike the JD(S), whose members are in unison seeking action against MES, the Congress is divided over the issue for political reasons. The camp headed by Siddaramaiah is in favour of pressuring the government to punish MES, while those aligning with KPCC president DK Shivakumar want the government to go soft on the outfit.
“Siddaramaiah is bound to seek punishment for MES as it involves desecration of Sangolli Rayanna’s statue, a personality the whole Kuruba community has appropriated. However, Shivakumar is looking at the electoral prospects of his loyalists like Lakshmi Hebbalkar and other Belagavi legislators, who are heavily banking on Maratha votes. Since the JD(S) has no such obligation, it is trying to cash in on pro-Kannada sentiment,” said political observer NK Mohanram.
While it is legally not tenable to ban MES since it is a registered political party, Siddaramaiah on Monday urged the government to explore the possibilities within the framework of the law to ban it. “The government should not shy away from banning MES and banishing the miscreants,” he said.
However, Shivakumar categorically said he would not put the blame on MES for the crimes committed by a few fringe elements. “Being the party president, I should behave responsibly when it comes to commenting on another political party. I am not ready to say that MES is responsible for this unrest. Let there be investigation and the culprits be punished,” he said.
Seizing the opportunity, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, through his tweet, admonished the Congress for talking in two tongues.
BJP, meanwhile, has chosen to maintain a neutral stand after the assembly passed a censure motion against the miscreants. “People have already banned MES in Belagavi. The government need not do it,” said home minister Araga Jnanendra.