Mumbai, Dec 7 (PTI) The Congress on Wednesday alleged the border dispute with Karnataka is being stoked by the Bharatiya Janata Party under a conspiracy to “divide” Maharashtra and demanded Chief Minister Eknath Shinde convene an all-party meeting to explain the government’s stand.
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole alleged the Karnataka Chief Minister was working on the instructions of the Central government and select industrialists.
“The BJP is stoking the border dispute with Karnataka as part of a conspiracy to divide Maharashtra,” Patole alleged.
He dubbed the Eknath Shinde-led regime the worst government in the history of Maharashtra.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka is deliberately spoiling the environment in the border areas and Marathi people are being beaten up and their property is damaged. The people of Maharashtra will not tolerate the bullying by Karnataka. Maharashtra has taken a stand of observing restraint but if we lose our restraint, Karnataka and the Central government will have to bear the consequences,” Patole told reporters.
He alleged Karnataka is staking claims to certain areas in Maharashtra on the instructions of the Narendra Modi government and select industrialists.
“Karnataka Chief Minister (Basavraj) Bommai is making inflammatory statements every day but there is no response from the Maharashtra government. The situation is such that people are questioning whether there is a government in Maharashtra or not,” he alleged.
Patole said the attacks by Karnataka in the border areas are serious.
He accused the BJP of planning to “rob” Mumbai by giving prime parcels of land to select industrialists.
Responding to a query, Patole said the issue of Dharavi slum redevelopment in Mumbai is very important.
Another senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat demanded the chief minister call an all-party meeting and clarify its position on the border issue.
“Trucks, buses and vehicles are being vandalized in Karnataka. Maharashtra will not tolerate these kinds of attacks from Karnataka.
“What is Maharashtra’s position on the border issue? What will be their next course of action? Since there is a BJP government in Karnataka and at the Centre, is the Centre giving instructions to Karnataka on the issue? We don’t know this but as this matter is serious, our Chief Minister should call the leaders of all the parties in the state and discuss it,” he said. PTI MR NSK NSK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.