Tuesday, September 26 2006 11:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Sending a message to the Karnataka Government on the vexed border issue, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil yesterday (Sept 25, 2006)said that public opinion cannot be changed by using police force.

"Never in world history has anyone been able to change public opinion through use of force", Patil said while addressing a large convention of Marathi-speaking populace in border areas of Karnataka at Belgaum.

"The convention, attended by over a lakh people, was intended to send a strong message to all concerned that the 10 crore people of Maharashtra were with the Marathi-speaking populace of the border areas in their struggle", Patil told reporters here on arrival from Belgaum.

At the convention, Patil, who belongs to Sangli district bordering Karnataka, had assured the co-linguists of Belgaum district that his state would stand by them and support their movement for merger of Marathi speaking areas of Karnataka with Maharashtra.

A leader of the 'Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti', which organised the 'mahasammelan' (convention), which coincided with Karnataka assembly's special session in Belgaum, told sources over phone that Patil was invited not because he is Deputy Chief Minister but because he supports our cause.

Karnataka convened the legislature session to 'prove' to the Supreme Court, which Maharashtra has approached, that it still has a 'hold' on Belgaum, Patil said.