As the border row between Maharashtra and Karnataka intensifies, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde moved a resolution to protect state's interest in the state Assembly on Tuesday. This came barely a week after the Karnataka Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on the same.
According to the resolution, there were 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka. The Maharashtra government said in the resolution that "every inch of these villages will be brought into Maharashtra".
It added that the the Maharashtra government would stand behind the Marathi people in border areas. It also promised to do whatever is required for the fight in the Supreme Court.
In the resolution, the Shinde-led government condemned Karnataka administration for "oppressing and terrorising the Marathi population" and for its "anti-Marathi stand in border areas." The resolution asserts that "every inch of Belgaum, Karwar, Bidar, Nipani, Bhalki" will be part of Maharashtra.
Earlier, Shinde had lashed out at Uddhav Thackarey who demanded that the Centre declare the disputed border area as UT till the Supreme Court gives its judgment. "We do not need any lessons from others. We are standing steadfast with those living in the boundary region. We are bringing a resolution to the effect in the assembly tomorrow (Tuesday)," Shinde told reporters here on Monday.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too had reiterated that they would fight even for an inch. "We will do whatever we can for the justice of the Marathi-speaking population in Karnataka," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.
Karnataka had passed a similar resolution last Thursday resolving to protect state's interest in the issue. However, there were reports that the BJP top brass were reportedly unhappy about the resolution as it would affect the party's chances in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections. The BJP is in power in both the states.
The border issue dates back to 1957 when states were reorganized on linguistic lines. Maharashtra laid claim to Belagavi, which was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, as it has a sizable Marathi-speaking population. It also laid claim to 814 Marathi-speaking villages which are currently part of the southern state.
Karnataka, however, considers the demarcation done on linguistic lines as per the States Reorganisation Act and the 1967 Mahajan Commission Report as final.
