Mumbai:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday mentioned regions dominated by Marathi-speaking persons on the state’s border with Karnataka really should be declared as a Union Territory till the Supreme Court provides its final verdict on the concern.
Speaking at the launch of a book on the boundary dispute in between the two states, Mr Thackeray lashed out at the Karnataka government more than alleged atrocities on Marathi-speaking population in these regions, and mentioned there is a have to have to fight to win the case for their inclusion in Maharashtra.
Maharashtra claims particular regions, which includes Belgaum, Karwar and Nippani which are component of Karnataka, contending the majority of population in these regions is Marathi-speaking.
The case more than the dispute in between the two states is pending just before the Supreme Court for several years.
Mr Thackeray mentioned, “When the case is being heard in the Supreme Court, the Karnataka government renames Belgaum, declares it as its second capital, constructs a Legislature building and holds one legislature session there.”
“Isn’t this contempt of court?” Mr Thackeray asked.
He mentioned the “Karnataka-occupied Marathi-speaking areas should be declared as a Union Territory” till the Supreme Court provides its final verdict.
“We have to learn from past experiences and fight to win. The Karnataka-occupied Marathi-speaking areas will be included in Maharashtra,” he asserted.
The chief minister also targeted the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) for allegedly disintegrating and
weakening the Marathi bring about for selfish political interests.
“Earlier, the MES won half-a-dozen MLAs, Belgaum mayor used to be a Marathi-speaking person. The Shiv Sena never entered the political fray in Belgaum because it did not want to weaken the MES,” he mentioned.
Mr Thackeray, whose party formed a Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) with the NCP and Congress to kind government in 2019, mentioned a time-bound action program requires to be charted out to win the legal battle and assure the Marathi- speaking leadership and persons in these regions of Karnataka stay united.
“Let’s take a pledge that we will not rest till we win. If the long pending issue is not resolved during this (MVA) government’s tenure, it will never be,” he mentioned.
“In Karnataka, whichever political party’s government or chief minister take charge, they have one thing in common -atrocities against Marathi people and language,” he charged.
Marathi persons really should also unite, he mentioned, adding that “let us be determined to win”.
Speaking on the occasion, NCP president Sharad Pawar mentioned the Mahajan Commission was set up (by the Centre in 1960s) to study and arrive at a conclusion when (Maharashtra leader) Senapati Bapat started his hunger strike.
“The then Maharashtra chief minister Vasantrao Naik accepted the commission and agreed that its findings will be binding on the state. But, the commission was 100 per cent against Maharashtra,” Mr Pawar mentioned.
“We (Maharashtra) rejected the commission’s findings. Barrister A R Antulay, the former CM, wrote a book dismissing the Mahajan Commission’s report. This book should find a mention in the new book (released on Wednesday),” he mentioned.
Mr Pawar mentioned the Supreme Court is the “last weapon for the state” and Maharashtra really should use all its legal acumen to win the case.
“We have to fight to win. There is no other option. It is good that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is taking a lead in this direction. Maharashtra needs to sink its political differences and show more unity in this case,” he mentioned.
The new 530-web page book, ”Maharashtra-Karnataka Seemavad: Sangharsh Aani Sankalp” (Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary dispute: struggle and pledge), compiled and edited by Deepak Pawar, an OSD in the state government”s boundary dispute cell, provides a detailed account of concern.
Deepak Pawar mentioned he has travelled from Bidar to Karwar (in Karnataka) and located that really like for Marathi language and culture binds persons from the border regions to Maharashtra.
“The need of the hour is to assure them that the state of Maharashtra is firmly behind them, and the MES should also be united to carry on the struggle,” he mentioned.
Maharashtra General Administration Department’s principal secretary Shrikant Deshpande mentioned the boundary dispute is a fight for the “Marathi asmita (pride)”.
The book, comprising articles and cartoons chronicalling the concern more than the final 64 years, will assistance build an awareness about the concern amongst the new generation and bridge the disconnect in between Marathi-speaking locals and other persons in Maharashtra, Deshpande mentioned.
“Political and social mobilisation is the need of the hour to ensure Marathi language and culture thrive in these areas,” he mentioned.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa lately slammed Mr Thackeray’s comments wherein the latter mentioned his government is committed towards incorporating into Maharashtra the regions of Karnataka exactly where Marathi-speaking persons are in majority.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by employees and is published from a syndicated feed.)