Maratha rally to draw support from north Karnataka residents

KOLHAPUR: Marathi-speaking people from towns of northern Karnataka are going to participate in Maratha Mukh Kranti Morcha, which is scheduled to take place at Kolhapur on October 15. Several Maratha organisations from Kolhapur are in touch with the members of the community from Belgaum (Belagavi), Nipani, Karwar and Khanapur areas of Karnataka. There has been a long standing demand for the inclusion of these areas into Maharashtra, a legal dispute the state has with Karnataka. Considering the close ties between residents of Kolhapur and these areas, people from north Karnataka have vouched their support for the Maratha rally in the city. Vasantrao Mulik of Maratha Mahasangh met the local leaders and Maratha people from Nipani on Sunday. Over 2,000 Marathi-speaking people attended the meeting and resolved to support the October 15 rally. The general concern among Marathi-speaking population was that they are not getting the due benefits despite being linguistic minority community. The Dharwad bench of the Karnataka High Court in 2002 had ruled that the Karnataka government should make all the government documents make available in Marathi for the Marathi-speaking people. Also, major concern was the miniscule presence of Marathi speaking population in the government jobs in Karnataka."The Marathi-speaking people are fighting for inclusion of the areas in Maharashtra since last six decades. All people from Kolhapur have supported their agitations and now, they have decided to support the Maratha rally," said Mulik. Belgaum residents said that since the Karnataka government has made Kannada compulsory in the Marathi schools since 1986, many have remained illiterate. Mallikarjun Mulagi, local journalist from Belgaum, said the Karnataka government has stopped issuing Kunabi certificates to Marathas long ago. Maratha holding Kunabi certificate can get government jobs through OBC quota.Mulagi said, "The demand of inclusion of Marathas from Karnataka in OBC may get momentum due to the mega rallies taking place in Maharashtra. The Marathi-speaking people are in minority in Karnataka. Despite this, they are denied their statutory rights. Except in Belgaum Municipal Corporation, at no other government office are the documents issued in Marathi."