ADGP Pandey turns peacenik to end Belagavi’s ‘Rayanna’ row
Kannada hero’s statue will stay where it was unveiled recently
Pandey, a former Belagavi SP, succeeded in bridging gap between Marathi and Kannada leaders
BENGALURU/BELAGAVI:
It took the intervention of ADGP Amar Kumar Pandey – who was once the ‘boss’ of Belagavi – to break the logjam between Kannada and Marathi leaders over the installation of Kannada patriot Kranti Veera Sangoli Rayanna’s statue. It was finally decided unanimously by both sides to allow the Rayanna statue to remain at the location where it had been unveiled at midnight on Thursday.
Pandey had served in Belagavi as SP in 1999 and was familiar with every nook and cranny in the city. He was sent to Belagavi as a peace messenger by none other than Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
After a two-hour-long meeting, which concluded at 9 pm and was attended by Belagavi DC MG Hiremath, Police Commissioner Tyagarajan, Kannada activists Deepak Kudagenahatti and Mahadev Talwar, and local Peranvadi Marathi leaders Sachin Gorle and Santosh Jainoji, it was decided to maintain peace in the village and to allow Rayanna’s statue to remain at the entrance to the village. However, the Marathi leaders demanded that the circle where the Rayanna statue is installed continue to be called ‘Shivaji Circle’.
Later, Pandey and Hiremath alongwith the Kannada and Marathi leaders visited Peranvadi village and garlanded Rayanna’s statue. Leaders belonging to both linguistic communities chanted slogans in favour of Rayanna and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
‘Shivaji Circle’ remains
Pandey had requested both sides to ensure that law and order is maintained and to arrive at an amicable solution. “We wanted peace to be maintained. They have discussed the issue and have decided that the statue will remain where it was installed and the circle will continue to be called Shivaji Circle,” he said.
Hiremath said, “We conducted a peace meeting in the village and with the intention to not to allow a single outsider, we ensured that only Peranwadi villagers from the Kannada and Marathi sides participated. We wanted both parties to amicably decide on the issue and they held discussions for nearly half an hour. They announced that the circle will continue to be called Shivaji Circle while also deciding to allow the Rayanna statue to remain at the same location.”
Santosh Jainoji said the Kannada leaders were demanding the installation of the Rayanna statue and naming the circle after him, and there was a tense situation in the village since August 15. Jaonoji added, “But today both linguistic sides have amicably held a meeting in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Hiremath and decided to allow the installation of Rayanna’s statue at the entrance to the village while continuing to name the circle after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj stands at the same location since 2001 and it’s been 19 years since the circle was named Shivaji Circle. Not a single Marathi leader had opposed the installation of the Rayanna statue, but despite this, confusion was created and we wanted the statue to be installed in broad daylight in the presence of all party leaders.”
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