Sena seeks Centre's intervention in disputed area in Karnataka

Raut said, 'Brutal atrocities are going on in Belgaum against Marathi-speaking people merely over removal of a board'

The police action against Marathi-speaking people at Yellur in Karnataka has prompted protests by political parties in Maharashtra, with the Shiv Sena calling it as an act of "terror" and seeking Centre's intervention in the "disputed" region.

"It is the reign of goondas. Even we can do this goondagiri but we won't do that. We demand that the Centre immediately declare the border area in Karnataka where 20 lakh Marathi-speaking people live, as Centrally administered region and appoint a Central representative as administrator," Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut told reporters.

"Brutal atrocities are going on in Belgaum against Marathi-speaking people merely over removal of a board. Is this the rule of law?" Raut, a Rajya Sabha MP, said after a meeting of the Shiv Sena-BJP-led 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance) passed a resolution condemning the "assault" by Karnataka police.

Earlier, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' described yesterday's police action at Yellur in Belgaum district as and act of "terrorism" and sought the Centre's intervention.

"In Modi, we have a strong Prime Minister and in Rajnath Singh, we have got a strong Home Minister. The Marathi speaking populace in the border area has great expectation from them.

"If Karnataka police are indulging in terror against Marathi-speaking people, it is the responsibility of the Central government to curb this terrorism. We are making this appeal to the Central government because those ruling Maharashtra are incompetent," the editorial said.

Police had yesterday lathicharged a group of pro-Maharashtra supporters who threw stones at them at Yellur after a 'Maharashtra Rajya' plaque re-erected by them was removed by the district administration.

Pro-Maharashtra supporters had on Saturday re-erected a controversial signboard at Yellur after the previous one was razed to the ground by Public Works Department on Friday following a High Court order.