The leader and activists of Kannada outfit Karnataka Rakshana Vediki were detained at Hubli in north Karnataka today as they were trying to move towards border district of Belgaum to stage a protest on the pro- Maharashtra sign board issue.
Several activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, including its President T A Narayana Gowda were detained on the Pune-Bangalore highway near Hubli as they were moving towards Belgaum, from where they had organised march towards Yellur village that witnessed violence over removal of a pro-Maharashtra sign board few days ago.
"If government feels that they can stop our agitation by arresting me it is their foolishness, they can't stop us," Gowda told reporters as he was being detained.
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He said "our agitation cannot be stopped, it is a continuous struggle. The right over Belgaum is ours, we will continue our agitation until pro-Maharashtra organisations stop their wrong activities in the Belgaum, until the MES (Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti) is banned. Our agitation wont stop, no one can stop us."
Activists also allegedly resorted to stone pelting at an empty Maharashtra bus shouting slogans against MES, as they were protesting against being stopped from moving towards Belgaum.
Police had yesterday detained another group of pro-Kannada activists including their leader Vatal Nagaraj when they attempted to enter Yellur village.
Clashes broke out at Yellur village of Belgaum district on July 27 after a group of local people and pro-Maharashtra groups pelted stones at the police, objecting to the removal of a re-erected "Maharashtra Rajya" sign board.
The district administration had on July 26 removed "Maharashtra Rajya" signboard at Yellur that was re-erected by the pro-Maharashtra supporters, after the previous one was razed to ground by the Public Works Department July 25. PWD's action came on the basis of a High Court order.
