Date:28/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/28/stories/2005112809150100.htm

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Muthalik flays party's stand on Kannadigas

Staff Correspondent

Says he is not ready to compromise on State's territory, hints at quitting the Shiv Sena

BIJAPUR: Shiv Sena's State unit President Pramod Muthalik on Sunday gave enough indications that he may quit the party if it continues its hostile stand over the Belgaum issue and Kannadigas.

Addressing a press conference here, he disapproved of the party's endorsement of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti's demand seeking merger of Belgaum and some border taluks with Maharashtra. He condemned the alleged threat to Kannadigas in Maharashtra by party supremo Bal Thackeray and his son, Uddhav Thackeray.

Mr. Muthalik said the Mahajan Commission report on border dispute is final.

He and his party colleagues in Karnataka will not tolerate any harm to Kannadigas, and they are not ready to compromise on the territory of State.

For them, interest of State and its people comes first, he said.

The former Bajrang Dal convenor for south India said he agreed to head the Shiv Sena in State only after party leaders clarified that they will not rake up border dispute. Shiv Sena leaders should understand that if at all the party has a base in Karnataka, it is not because of them but for the presence of large number of Hindutva activists, who do not have geographical or language barriers, he said.

Mr. Muthalik said he and some other party leaders from the State will meet the Thackerays (father and son) in Mumbai on Monday to clarify their stand on the issue.

A meeting of State unit office-bearers is convened in Bangalore on Wednesday to discuss the outcome of proposed meeting with the party chief.

Meanwhile, sources close to Mr. Muthalik told The Hindu that pressure is growing on him to quit the party. If the party's leadership sticks to hostile stand, Mr. Muthalik and his colleagues may quit the Shiv Sena.

Tension in Sindagi

Tension prevailed in Sindagi town following the removal of Shiv Sena flags and subsequent stone-throwing incidents on Saturday night.

Police arrested 80 persons, including 71 activists of the Shiv Sena.

Subsequently, the Shiv Sena called off Sunday's rally after the district administration imposed a ban on Mr. Muthalik and others from entering Sindagi town. The Shiv Sena has called for Sindagi bandh on Monday.

Trouble started around 10.30 p.m. when some miscreants removed Shiv Sena flags tied to electric poles near a prayer hall on Tekked Galli.

As the news spread, party activists gathered and started throwing stones at some buildings, including that of a member of town municipality. They accused him of beign instrumental in removing the flags.

Police resorted to lathi-charge to control the mob. At least 10 people including three policemen were injured. Shiv Sena office-bearers including Srimanth Duddagi, Kashinath Masabinal and Chennappagouda Patil were arrested. A case and a counter case have been registered. Police have begun manhunt for main accused in the rival group, Abdul Gaffar and Razak Aland. Additional police forces were rushed to Sindagi.

Police sent back many vehicles carrying Shiv Sena activists, who arrived for ht proposed rally from outskirts of Sindagi town on Sunday. Shiv Sena MLA from Sholapur Rathikant Patil and Sholapur district unit chief Shivasharan Anna Patil were to take part in the rally.