Belagavi region peaceful, says Karnataka police
Belagavi (PTI): The Karnataka-Maharashtra border region, which has been witnessing a series of agitations since the first day of legislature session here is now peaceful, police said on Wednesday.
"There's absolutely peace in the border district of Belagavi. Vehicular movement between the two states is normal and there is nothing to worry," a senior police official told PTI.
As a precautionary measure, barricades have been put up on the bridge connecting Belagavi in Karnataka with Maharashtra.
Police personnel have also been deployed at the vaccine depot ground in Tilakwadi, where the Madhyavarti Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MMES) was planning to stage a demonstration on December 19.
"The MMES movement has stopped but as a precaution we are deploying forces there," the official added.
The MMES wanted the leaders from Maharashtra to attend their event aimed at building pressure on Karnataka government to merge Belagavi with Maharashtra.
The district administration denied the leaders permission to enter Belagavi and attend the event as it will lead to law and order problem.
Meanwhile, Karnataka legislators have decided to pass a resolution in both the houses asserting the state's stand that the border issue is a settled one and there was no need to rake it up.
Maharashtra has been demanding merger of Belagavi and a few other neighbouring regions in Karnataka on the ground that these places have a substantial Marathi speaking population.
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News about India pulling out of Asia Cup is speculative: BCCI secretary Saikia
New Delhi (PTI): The BCCI on Monday termed as "speculative and imaginary" the report which claimed that it has decided to pull out of men's Asia Cup and women's Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
A media report, quoting sources, said that BCCI won't let Indian teams compete in the two Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events at a time when the cricket body is being headed by a Pakistani and just days back the two neighbouring nations were involved in a military conflict.
Pakistan's interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is also PCB Chairman, holds the position of President in the ACC.
Defending champions India are the hosts for the Men's Asia Cup, to be played in the T20 format, in September while Sri Lanka have been allotted the Women's Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
"Since this morning, it has come to our notice about some news items about BCCI's decision not to participate in the Asia Cup and Women's Emerging Teams Asia Cup, both ACC events. Such news is devoid of any truth as till now, the BCCI has not even discussed or taken any such steps regarding the ensuing ACC events, leave alone writing anything to the ACC," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia to PTI.
Saikia added that BCCI is focussed on ensuring the smooth conduct of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the upcoming five-match Test series against England beginning next month.
"At this stage, our prime focus is on the ongoing IPL and the subsequent England series, both men and women. The Asia Cup matter or any other ACC event issue has not come up for discussion at any level, hence any news or report on that is purely speculative and imaginary.
"It may be said that the BCCI, as and when any discussion on any ACC event takes place and any important decision is reached, the same will be announced through the media," he added.
