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Earlier on Monday, Thackeray wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urging him to push for a proposal to declare Belagavi as Union Territory
Karnataka CM Siddaramaih and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. (File)
Belagavi border dispute: A new political tussle broke out over Belagavi border dispute between Karnataka Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday demanded that Belagavi, a city in Karnataka bordering Maharashtra, should be declared a Union Territory, drawing a jibe from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who called Thackeray’s demand as “childish”.
“It’s a childish statement. The Mahajan report is final. So, neither should we ask for anything and nor should they. How can it be declared as union territory? And, if Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) protests, will we keep quiet?” Siddaramaiah had said.
Aaditya’s Demand To Declare Belagavi A UT
Earlier on Monday, Thackeray wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urging him to push for a proposal to declare Belagavi as Union Territory alleging that injustice was being meted out to Marathi-speaking people in Belagavi.
BJP Leader CN Ashwath Narayan also opposed Thackeray’s move. “The Mahajan Commission has already come out with a clear report. Why are they (Aaditya Thackrey) trying to instigate again and again? He should focus on how to help the people of Maharashtra…” he said as quoted be news agency ANI.
As the winter session of the Karnataka assembly began on Monday, members of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti were opposing it. The outfit organised a congregation in Belagavi, but the Karnataka government reportedly prohibited the gathering and banned leaders from Maharashtra from entering the state.
Belagavi Border Issue
The border issue dates back to 1957 when states were reorganised on linguistic lines. Maharashtra laid claim to Belagavi, which was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, as it has a sizeable Marathi-speaking population, and over 800 Marathi-speaking border villages that are currently a part of Karnataka.
Karnataka maintains that the demarcation done on linguistic lines as per the States Reorganisation Act and the 1967 Mahajan Commission Report is final.
(With inputs from agencies)
- Location :
Karnataka, India
