In response to Karnataka’s proposal advocating for a 60% usage of Kannada on signboards, the Maharashtra government is considering legal action. The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) revealed on Monday that a lawsuit may be filed in the Bombay High Court following opposition from pro-Maharashtrian groups in Belagavi.
A delegation from MES met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Kolhapur last Friday to express concerns about the treatment of Marathi-speaking residents in Karnataka. The delegation cited instances of alleged denial of constitutional rights, including the closure of offices related to Maharashtra’s free health insurance scheme in Belagavi and the mandatory 60% Kannada requirement on business name boards.
Vikas Kalaghatagi, MES spokesperson, stated, “We apprised the CM of the mental harassment faced by Marathis in Karnataka, to which he has assured us of addressing all grievances.” Kalaghatagi added that Chief Minister Shinde is taking the issue seriously and has committed to filing a lawsuit in the Bombay High Court.
However, senior advocate SM Kulkarni, a member of the Karnataka State Border Protection Commission, countered the Maharashtra government’s plan. Kulkarni argued that as an interstate matter, Maharashtra is limited to pursuing it exclusively in the Supreme Court and not in any other court. He suggested that Maharashtra could add the 60% board reservation suit as supplementary to its existing case, as the state has already filed a suit with the Supreme Court over its border dispute with Karnataka.
During the meeting, the delegation urged Shinde to expedite a meeting of the advisory committee on the border dispute, prompted by a reminder notice from the Union home ministry. Maloji Ashtekar, former Belagavi mayor and MES general secretary, expressed dissatisfaction with the committee’s inactivity since its formation in January 2023. He emphasized the Maharashtra government’s alleged neglect of linguistic concerns in Karnataka.
Since 2004, Maharashtra has pursued its claim on 856 villages and towns, including Belagavi, through legal channels.