Sangolli Rayanna statue row ends with junction renamed after Shivaji Maharaj

BELAGAVI: The Sangolli Rayanna statue row ended on Saturday with aggrieved parties amicably agreeing to name the Y junction where the statue is placed after Shivaji Maharaj. The circle will be identified as Shivaji Circle and the statue will remain there.
In the wee hours of Friday, a group of people from the Kuruba community of Peeranwadi village reinstalled the statue at Y junction on National Highway 4 at Peeranwadi on the outskirts of Belagavi after police foiled the installation bid on August 15. The reinstalment drew anger from Maratha community members of the same village, even as Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti members brought a Shivaji statue to install at the same site and pelted stones at Kannada speaking people.
Police had to resort to caning to restore peace and cases were booked against both linguistic group. ADGP Amarkumar Pande mediated and proposed the new arrangement to which everyone agreed.
Rural development and panchayat raj minister KS Eshwarappa and Kuruba leader in the BJP said people agreeing to accommodate two personalities in one place is a model for others.
However, political scientist Prof Muzaffar Assadi said: “This solution only suspends the conflict. The site reminds us about competitive chauvinism and conflict for icons.”
‘Quick decision needed’
If the government had taken an early decision, the episode would not have turned into Rayanna versus Shivaji or Kannadigas versus Marathas, said Siddaramaiah, leader of opposition in assembly.