Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde moved Tuesday a resolution in the state Assembly expressing solidarity with those living in the contentious boundary region with Karnataka.
The resolution, which was unanimously passed by the Assembly, condemned the Karnataka administration for “oppressing and terrorising the Marathi population” and also for its “anti-Marathi stand in border areas.”
Reiterating its claim that there were 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka, the Maharashtra government in its resolution asserted that it would stand behind the Marathi people in border areas and ensure victory in the legal fight in Supreme Court so that these areas become a part of Maharashtra.
On Monday, Shinde had hit out at his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray, who demanded that the Marathi-speaking areas of Karnataka be declared as a Union Territory. “We do not need any lessons from others.
We are standing steadfast with those living in the boundary region,” Shinde told reporters on Monday. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday asserted the state government will fight for even an inch of land, amid the simmering boundary dispute with Karnataka.
Earlier Shiv Sena (UBT) president and MLC Uddhav Thackeray, who attended the state Legislative Council for the first time after stepping down as chief minister in June this year, on Monday demanded that the Centre declare the disputed area on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border as a Union Territory (UT).
Thackeray, who was speaking in the Council after a debate was moved by Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve on the border dispute, also questioned if the Centre has acted as guardian on the issue between the neighbouring states.
Thackeray said a resolution should be passed in the House declaring the disputed border area as UT till the Supreme Court gives its judgment on the issue and sent to the Centre.
“This is an important issue. This is not a case of language and the border but of humanity. I am glad that at least on this both ruling and opposition sides have come together,” he added.
“This fight has been going on for almost 56 years. Marathi language has been rooted in the border area since the time when the states were formed on linguistic basis. Citizens living there for many years speak Marathi language. This fight is not political,” Thackeray said.
Thackeray also asked if Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said a single word on the issue and questioned the stand taken by the state government on it.
He also asked if the Shinde government had the courage to act against some of the gram panchayats of Maharashtra which had demanded a merger with Telangana, like Karnataka had done when some gram panchayats had passed similar resolutions.
“We don’t want a single inch of land in Karnataka but we want our land back,” he said.
