KDMC backs Belgaum cause

Vaijayanti Gholap, mayor of the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC),has assured the visiting delegation from the politically-disputed city of Belgaum of all help in their fight. RISHIKESH CHAUDHARY Suspended Belgaum mayor Manda Balekunde and deputy mayor Renu Killekar under the flagship of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti meeting Vaijayanti Gholap, mayor of the KDMC on Saturday.

The delegation was led by suspended Belgaum mayor Manda Balekunde and deputy mayor Renu Killekar under the flagship of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti that has spearheaded the decade-old campaign to fight for the cause of Belgaum’s existence as a Marathi-populated township in the bordering area for the larger interest of its people. “We understood the ordeal of the elected representatives of Belgaum Municipal Corporation and the people of this township and its vicinity which are largely Marathispeaking conglomerate that have been remained disputed for more than 56 years on which Karnataka is claiming its control. But we know Belgaum belonged to Maharashtra and Marathi people. The elected representatives should get their due in a democratic set up. We will continue to support for the cause of Marathi people and Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti that has been fighting for the existence of the town,” said Glolap.
It may be recollected that the Karnataka government had on December 15 last year dissolved the democratically elected general assembly of Belgaum Municipal Corporation which prompted the elected representatives including its mayor and deputy mayor to reach out to various municipal corporations in the state and the government to apprise them their plight of great humiliation. The visiting delegation wanted the dismissal of Karnataka Government.