Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde tabled a resolution on the long-running border dispute in the state assembly on Tuesday. This is amid a simmering disagreement with Karnataka. The resolution was unanimously approved. It emphasized that Maharashtra would fight the ongoing Supreme Court lawsuit with all of its might. It will strive to include all 865 villages in the case. The villages include Belgavi, Karwar, Nipani, and Bidar Bhalki. Additionally, it criticized the administration's anti-Marathi stance in the border region.
This comes a day after Uddhav Thackeray recommended that the contested area should be placed under central control. He demanded central control extend till the Supreme Court decides the matter. The long-running argument concerns the border regions of Maharashtra and Karanataka. The residents of these regions identify more strongly with one state than the other due to the language they speak.
Devendra Fadnavis criticized Uddhav Thackeray for his failure to find a solution while in office. "Today the Chief Minister will move a resolution (in state assembly) on the border dispute. I hope the resolution will be passed by the majority. I'm surprised that those who spoke yesterday did nothing for 2.5 years as the chief minister." the BJP leader was quoted as saying by news agency ANI as he stressed that the " border dispute did not start after our government came to power".
"It started with the creation of Maharashtra and the language-based formation of provinces. It's going on for years. We never did politics on this issue and we hope that no one does politics on this. People of border areas should feel that entire Maharashtra is with them," he insisted.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar sought a discussion. He demanded the government involve the opposition amid sparring with the government. "We will keep our stand and will show that we stand with the people residing in border areas. It will also be important to see whether the central government will declare these disputed areas as union territories. The matter is currently in court," he stressed.
A six-member ministerial panel will preside over the negotiations, stated Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The comments are from a recent meeting with the Chief Ministers of both states on the border problem.
