Belagavi: A preliminary meeting called by deputy commissioner S B Bommanhalli to discuss Kannada Rajtyotsava celebrations has decided to invite chief minister HD Kumaraswamy to inaugurate the procession.Around 50 Kannada organizations participated in the meeting held here on Friday evening and gave their suggestions. Since the Rajyotsava is celebrated in a much grander way in Belagavi compared to any other parts of the state, it was decided to invite the CM. The DC said he would discuss about the next initiative with the district minister.Meanwhile, the DC announced that five Kannada leaders would be honoured during this Rajyotsava, adding that a five-member panel will select the leaders. The best tableaux by private and government departments in the procession will be given prizes, added Bommanahalli. Private organizations have to apply by October 20 to participate..Senior Kannada leader Ashok Chandaragi sought grants from the government for grand Rajyotsava celebrations and said a proposal should be sent to the state government. Another leader, Mahaboob Makandar suggested that viewers’ galleries be built for women and children to watch the procession.Mahadev Talwar of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike said the Black Day, observed by Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) parallelly on Rajyotsava, should be banned. Ramesh Sontakki said celebrating Rajyotsava should be made mandatory in every Kannada, Marathi and Urdu school.Mayor Basavaraj Chikkaladinni said viewers’ galleries would be built by Belagavi City Corporation.DCP (law and order) Seema Latkar urged Kannada organizations to cooperate with police and appoint volunteers for each tableau. He added that the procession should finish early, although no time limit has been set.

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