Mumbai: Maharashtra passed a unanimous resolution in the state assembly Tuesday condemning Karnataka’s anti-Marathi stance and accused its government of “oppressing” and being “unjust” towards the Marathi-speaking population in the border.
This came days after the Karnataka assembly had passed a resolution of its own, reiterating its stand not to cede “even an inch of land” of its borders and condemned Maharashtra’s attempts to stoke passions on an issue which it said was a “finished chapter”.
The resolution said: “Maharashtra condemns Karnataka government’s anti-Marathi stance and how the Marathi population living in border areas have been receiving secondary treatment for years, they have been oppressed and treated unfairly.”
It aimed at bringing back 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka into Maharashtra.
Moved in the lower house of the Assembly and passed through a voice vote, the resolution vowed to bring back every inch of the 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka into Maharashtra, and also to fight the legal battle in the Supreme Court.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on the floor of the house: “The government of Maharashtra firmly stands behind the Marathi-speaking population on the border. It will do whatever it legally takes to bring back these regions into Maharashtra.”
The resolution also condemned its counterpart’s anti-Marathi public stance.
“Despite the case being fought in the SC and a meeting held between CMs of both states, the Karnataka government on December 22nd passed a resolution saying it will not give an inch of land to Maharashtra and has instigated the tensions between states and this stance of Karnataka government is not democratic. And so, to maintain peace between two states, the Maharashtra government will fight this battle legally and with full strength,” it read.
According to the resolution, the state government will urge the Centre to implement the decisions made at the meeting chaired by Amit Shah on the border dispute with the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Besides, the resolution read, “The central government should urge the Karnataka government to implement the decision taken in the meeting with the Union home minister and government should be given an understanding to guarantee the safety of the Marathi people in the border areas.”
Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said while the Opposition supported the government on this, it should also make sure that in those 865 villages, Belgavi, Bidar, Bhalki and Nipani were surely brought into the state.
On Monday, in the legislative council, former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had demanded the disputed border areas be given “Union Territory status” till the Supreme Court decided the issue. Thackeray also slammed the state government’s silence.
Responding to this on Monday, Shinde had said his government approved the expansion scheme of Rs 2,000 crore to villages on the border, which the previous Thackeray-led MVA government had disapproved of.
The dispute goes back to 1956 when the then Maharashtra government demanded a redrawing of its border with Karnataka. Maharashtra claims that 865 villages given to Karnataka — including Belgavi (former Belgaum), Karwar and Nippani — be merged into the state. Karnataka has rejected the claim.
Tension grew in the bordering areas recently, with political leaders on both sides attacking each other. Following this, Union Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to both CMs to maintain peace and not stoke the matter until the case is resolved in the Supreme Court.
Also read: ‘We are Marathi manoos’: Struggle for identity in Karnataka’s border villages spans generations