BELAGAVI
Huge uproar prevailed in Belagavi after Maharashtra on Tuesday passed a resolution for inclusion of 865 Karnataka border villages in Maharashtra. The resolution was unanimously passed at the ongoing Nagpur Winter Session of Maharashtra where Chief Minister Eknath Shinde presented it.
Maharashtra passed the resolution a few days after the Karnataka legislative Assembly passed a resolution not to give up even an inch of its land to other States.
“Maharashtra government will appeal to the Centre for merger of 865 villages of Karnataka with Maharashtra”, the resolution stated.
Reacting strongly to the resolution, Karnataka government headed by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Opposition condemned the controversial resolution.
“We strongly condemn the resolution passed by Maharashtra legislative Assembly. We are bound by the decision taken under the State Reorganisation Act in 1956. While people in the border villages are living happily, Maharashtra is raking up the issue for political reasons time and again,” Karnataka CM Basavraj Bommai said speaking at the ongoing Winter Session of the state assembly at Belagavi.
He also ascertained that not even an inch of Karnataka land would be given to Maharashtra, reiterating that such resolutions should not be passed by Maharashtra as the matter is pending in Supreme Court.
Senior Congress leader and former CM Siddaramaiah also condemned the controversial resolution stating that the resolution does not have any legal sanctity.
“We have already passed a resolution in the Karnataka legislative assembly on the boundary row hence Maharashtra’s resolution is invalid,” Siddaramiah said.
KPCC President D K Shivakumar called the resolution of Maharashtra government as politically motivated and said not even a single village from Karnataka will go to Maharashtra.
Revenue Minister R Ashok said, Marathi leaders in Maharashtra begin their drama when the elections draw closer. “Our national leaders are watching the unconstitutional moves made by Maharashtra,” Ashok said.
Maharashtra’s move is likely to add to the already escalating tension in Belagavi and border area.
