Karnataka passes resolution against Maharashtra over border row

BELAGAVI: The Karnataka government on Thursday passed an unanimous resolution condemning the inflammatory statements by Maharashtra leaders against Karnataka chief minister and on the border issue citing that the state is united across party lines when it comes to issues of land, water and language and shall not cede a single inch of land to the neighboring states.
It also said that Karnataka will not think twice to initiate legal action against those trying to inflame the border row further.
The resolution comes in the wake of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackray faction) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut citing that Maharashtra will force its way into Belagavi like China which is trying to enter India at Arunachal Pradesh and that of Maharashtra minister Shambuji Desai who said it could stop water to Karnataka.
Tabling the resolution, CM Bommai said historically, Karnataka has ruled across the country from Narmada to Cauvery hinting that Kannadigas had vast empires including Maharashtra in the medieval times.
“While the people from both states have always lived in harmony and never bothered themselves with the border disputes, it is certain parties which are politicising the entire issue and trying to light the fire for their own survival,” said Bommai, targeting Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES).
Bommai said that the entire issue on border row flares up only when Belagavi hosts the Karnataka legislature winter session.
“In 1972 the MES had five legislators in the house but today it is reduced to having none. Every winter session, the MES hosts the Mahamelav. The MES has no other work apart from holding a black day on November 1, when we celebrate Kannada Rajyotsava, and the Mahamelav when the legislature session is held in Belagavi,” said Bommai.
He said, within the legislature, leaders like Jayant Patil who made statements against Karnataka and himself using unparliamentary language within the Maharashtra legislature at the ongoing winter session in that state is indicative of their culture.
“And statements by Raut of entering Karnataka like China is trying to enter India is nothing but treason and pro-China statements. In fact, I say that Karnataka will cut short the incursions like the Indian army that stopped the Chinese incursion,” he said.
Bommai attacked Raut and said his statements are against the principles of federalism and are condemnable.
The CM asked the Maharashtra government to look within, where people along their borders are crying for development.
“Like the Maharashtra ministers who tried to enter Karnataka and create a law and order crisis, which we averted with our stand, the Karnataka government and myself were also invited from Solapur and Akkalkot. But we refrained. I ask Maharashtra to first look inwards before eyeing Karnataka lands,” he said.
Bommai said the stand of Karnataka is on strong legal grounds and that the state was confident of winning the legal battle in the border row at the Supreme Court.
“We have deployed a strong five member legal team including the likes of Mukul Rohatgi, Uday Holla, Shyam Diwan and others,” he said.
Earlier, opposition leader Siddaramaiah and former CM B S Yediyurappa condemned the uncivilized language used by the Maharashtra leaders while commenting on the border row but asked the government to refrain from responding in the same language to Maharashtra.