Border row: Gods in a dilemma

The Deccan Chronicle has been writing about Belgaum in a bit different way. Here is one more story from their stable.

Finding no solution in the courts or elsewhere to the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karntaka, the pro-Maratha lobby in Belgaum feels it has been left with no other option but to seek divine help. A team led by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra traditionally performs the pooja at the Pandarpur jathra for the welfare of the state and its people.

 People of Maharashtra have great faith in the Pandarpur jathra and believe that Vithal Rukmai blesses them with everything they ask for. This most popular jathra is attended by lakhs of devotees every year.

“The long legal battle between the governments has not been able to resolve the boundary row. This time Vithal Rukmai will listen to our prayers,” say several pro-Maharashtra leaders here, who have conveyed their sentiments to Mr Chavan.

“There is no other option left for the government but to pray,” these Marathi leaders say.

But it now seems the dispute could place even the Gods in a dilemma. According to sources, not just Maharashtrians but also lakhs of Kannadigas will take part in the jathra for the welfare of Karnataka and their own well being.

Instead of praying to solve the border issue these politicians need to pray to God for good rains and peace & we the public should pray to God for some good sense to the politicians. 

Maharashtra open for out-of-court settlement of border dispute

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Thursday said that his government was open to an out-of-court settlement on the long-pending boundary dispute with Karnataka.

Mr. Chavan was speaking at the Legislative Assembly in reply to the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address to the joint session of the state legislature; we wish to accelerate the border issue towards a settlement in this golden jubilee year of foundation of Maharashtra state he said.

Maharashtra will not tolerate injustice on the Marathi-speaking people of Belgaum, Karwar, Nippani and other areas on the Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary. There will be no compromise on this issue he added.

Source: The Hindu

Gandhigiri in Thane: roses given to Driver and commuters in KSRTC bus

Perception needs to be changed: Bussinessline says Belgaum is in Maharashtra

Before reading, this post read this DISCLAIMER: I am posting news from all media regarding Belgaum. My sole aim is to just make all Belgaumites aware of how the Media treats Belgaum and how the media as a whole make assumptions. Earlier I had quoted another similar story of a IIM A alumnus and this time this story is from Businessline & Businessline says source PTI(Pres Trust of India)

"NRCB scientists were evolving a method by which banana stem juice could be made to powder form, which has curative properties in treating diseases like kidney stones. Once perfected, the technology would be transferred to pharmaceutical industries, he sa id. The centre has also developed a patent technology to extract wine from banana skin and had joined hands with a group in Belgaum in Maharashtra to commercially produce banana wine. A pilot plant would soon be set up, pending approval from the union g overnment. - PTI "

See original Story on Businessline here

My earlier post had received about 12 comments, so if you go to see such posts get the maximum response, but I am not here like the TV media who can stick on to a single news bit for a whole day, let it be Bindras Gold or a boy in the well, for them all is part of the business, but its not mine.

We as responsible citizens of Belgaum should come up and fight against such nuances (Pro Marathi's, reading this will now call me Pro Kannada) a fact is a fact. Today it self Ratan Tata at last has decided to get out of West Bengal after the politics over Singur land. Similar things are happening here also. Come one now cheer up, I know your blood is boiling but Cool it, think over, will it make any difference at all.

Belgaum is in Maharashtra: Alumnus of IIM-A

The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) on Sunday released a book that deals with stories of 25 of its alumni who chose the less trodden path to make their mark as successful entrepreneurs.

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish", written by Rashmi Bansal -- herself an alumnus of IIM-A -- describes how 25 students of the premier B-school chose the path less trodden and successfully built new business and organisations.

Another interesting story included in the book is about a student who chose to set up sugar factories in his native place Belgum in Maharashtra instead of working with some multi-national company.

Narendra Murkumbi, who graduated from IIM-A in 1994, shut down his first company manufacturing bio-pesticides that he started after graduating from IIM-A. The reason for closure, according to Murkumbi, was its turnover of Rs 5 crore (in 1998) was "not large enough".

His second venture -- manufacturing and refining sugar -- earned him a place in a leading business magazine as one of the "new billionaires" of the country.

Shree Renuka Sugars, which the 38-year-old started, today has a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore and has changed lives of over 10,000 framers.

Moreover, five per cent of the company's earnings go to Shree Renuka Sugar Development Foundation, which runs schools for children of laborers who harvest the sugarcane, besides health centre and hospital in the factory.

To all the readers: By no means, I am trying to be pro Marathi or Pro Kannada. I am just sharing things written by learned people. They alumnus of IIM-A, the leading management institute, they should know geography a bit well I guess.

See original NDTV story here

'No' to merger with M'rashtra

Source: Deccan Herald
Ever since the reorganisation of Indian states in 1956, Karnataka's border dispute with Maharashtra over parts of Belgaum district, has been rearing its head at regular frequency. How do voters in the state respond to this issue?

Respondents to a survey were asked if they had heard about the dispute. Those who replied in the affirmative were further asked whether the demand to merge the areas claimed to be Marathi-speaking with Maharashtra was in any way justified or was unjustified. Across the state, less than half the respondents had heard about the border dispute with Maharashtra. The level of awareness about this dispute was expectedly much higher in the Mumbai-Karnataka region. Respondents in the Coastal Karnataka region too were more aware of the existence of a border row. In the Hyderabad-Karnataka region there was greater awareness of the issue as compared to those in Central Karnataka, Southern Karnataka and Bangalore. The survey was conducted in six of the 18 constituencies in Belgaum district. Not surprisingly, the level of awareness about the border dispute was much higher in Belgaum district with nearly two-thirds of the respondents claiming to be aware of the issue.

It was noted that more than two-thirds of those who took a stand on the issue felt that it was unjustified to demand for the merger of what is termed as the Marathi-speaking regions with Maharashtra Among those who said that the demand was not correct, an overwhelmingly large percentage of them said that the demand was totally unjustified. It is important to record that in the Belgaum district too, nearly 60 per cent of those who took a stand on the issue said that the demand was unjustified. Here too, a significantly large proportion opined that merging the so-called Marathi regions with Maharashtra was unjustified.

MES calls for 'hartal' today

The MES has been observing January 17 as "Martyr's Day" since 51 years.

President of the city unit of the MES Narayanrao Tarale and working president Deepak Dalvi on Wednesday appealed to the people to respond positively to the "hartal" call.

Tributes would be paid to martyrs at Hutatma Chowk in the city, they said.

A public meeting would be held in the evening at Samyukt Maharashtra Chowk, they added.

The Hartal call has not received a great deal of response from the local pbulic. May be in the evening Khade Bazar and Ramdev Galli corner will be closed due to the meeting there.