According to TV9 report, After Belagavi Deputy Commissioner prohibited 3 Maharashtra leaders from entering Belagavi, Maharashtra Excise Minister Shambhuraj Desai has said that they have cancelled their scheduled visit.
“We were ready to visit Belagavi on December 3 but a few Dalit organisations invited us to visit on December 6 so we had postponed our visit. December 6 is a Mahaparinirvana day, which is the death anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, on such a day, there should be no law and order situation and hence we have decided to cancel our visit. It would have been better if the Karnataka government had allowed us to pay tribute to Dr Ambedkar in Belagavi,” TV9 Marathi reported quoting Desai.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had cautioned the ministers to avoid travelling to Belagavi. “It is not appropriate for them to come when there is such a situation between the two states. We have already sent the message not to come. We will take the same action as the Government of Karnataka has taken when such attempts have been made several times in the past,” Bommai said.
Imposing section 144, the Belagavi district deputy commissioner had issued an order barring their entry in the district. The CM said that he had issued directions to officials to take adequate legal action in case the Maharashtra ministers arrive. The security has been stepped up in the border areas as precautionary measure as Bommai had instructed the revenue and police department officials to ensure that law and order is maintained.
