Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) state president T.A. Narayana Gowda has announced a large-scale protest in Belagavi on February 25, condemning the assault on a bus conductor and demanding the withdrawal of the POCSO case filed against him. The protest, titled “Namma Nade Belagavi Kadege”, aims to assert Kannada pride and challenge the case, which KRV claims is unjust.
In a video statement shared on social media, Narayana Gowda issued a stern warning to the authorities, demanding that the case be withdrawn by February 25 or face intense agitation. “If you love Marathi, express it in Maharashtra. In Karnataka, Kannada reigns supreme. You must learn and respect Kannada. That is why I am visiting Balekundri and other places. No matter which village in Karnataka, I will go there. Our activists from Belagavi district and neighboring regions will join this movement,” he declared.
The announcement has added to the ongoing tensions between pro-Kannada and pro-Marathi groups in the region, further intensifying the language debate in Karnataka’s border areas.