Pro-Marathi group shows black flags to Devendra Fadnavis in Belagavi

BELAGAVI: Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) workers on Thursday showed black flags to and raised slogans against Devendra Fadnavis in Karnataka's Belagavi district for his stand on the border dispute, while he was campaigning for BJP candidates Abhay Patil and Ravi Patil.
Police took several protesters into preventive custody and provided extra security to the Maharashtra deputy chief minister.

On Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut had urged MES workers to protest against BJP and Congress functionaries from Maharashtra by showing them black flags.
A fortnight ago, MES, which has fielded five candidates in Belagavi, had written to many prominent political functionaries from Maharashtra, urging them not to campaign against its candidates.
While BJP and Congress functionaries from Maharashtra are campaigning against MES candidates, NCP and Shiv Sena are supporting them.
Fadnavis said being a leader of a national party, it was his "duty" to campaign for party candidates. "It doesn't mean I don't support the fight of the Marathi people," he said.
Ashok Chavan, Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM, told reporters: "We are a national party, which has the support of not just Marathi speaking people, but people from all walks of life. We are not telling MES not to campaign. Let them hold campaigns. We are just advocating our view."