The two groups were fighting after the Kannadigas installed a statue of Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna at T-junction-- a landmark in Peeranwadi-- in the early hours of Friday. Rayanna is a revered freedom fighter who fought the British as a general of Kittur Rani Chenamma. The Marathi speaking group called the installation “surreptitious” and claimed that the T-junction had already been named in the honor of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Even as the local administration said that no permission had been taken for the installation of the statue, the issue became politicised. Several Kannada organizations across the state have threatened to take to streets if Rayanna’s statue is removed from the installed place.

Source: Hindustan Times August 29, 2020 10:38 UTC