Maharashtra's health scheme bid to disturb inter-state harmony: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai

BELAGAVI: CM Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday reacted sharply to the Maharashtra government's order of extending the benefits of the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) to the 865 villages on the Karnataka-Maharashtra border, which the Eknath Shinde government claims should be merged with Maharashtra.
The Shinde government had announced its decision to extend MJPJAY to villages in Karnataka last month - a move vehemently opposed by Bommai, who had assured the people of Karnataka that he would never allow Maharashtra to implement the health scheme in Karnataka.
Maha decision contravenes what Shinde, Fadnavis said: CM
It’s an attempt to disturb the harmony between the two states,” Bommai charged. In his tweet, the Karnataka CM further said that Maharashtra government’s decision is against the federal structure of the country. He urged the neighbouring state to withdraw the order immediately.
“If Maharashtra continues [with] its insolent attitude, Karnataka government will also implement a similar scheme in the Kannadadominated villages in Maharashtra,” Bommai threatened. The chief minister also condemned Maharashtra’s decision to seek a declaration from people in those villages that they speak Marathi, in order to be eligible for the benefits of the welfare scheme. “The decision of the Maharashtra government is in direct contravention of what CM Shinde and Deputy CM [Devendra] Fadnavis had said in a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah,” Bommai tweeted.
Meanwhile, Congress has demanded that the Centre sack the Shinde government and invoke Article 356 of the Constitution for disturbing the federal structure of the nation. Bommai must resign, says DKS Commenting on the border spat, former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said: “Sanctioning funds for a particular reason in another state is a different issue, but implementing a government scheme in another state is not permissible in a federal structure.” Meanwhile, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president DK Shivakumar demanded the resignation of Bommai for allegedly remaining silent on such a serious issue. The Maharashtra government’s move has angered several pro-Kannada organisations, particularly in Belagavi.
Speaking to TOI, Ashok Chandaragi, president, action committee of Belagavi Kannada organizations, said: “It wasn’t a sudden decision. The issue was in public domain a month ago. chief minister Bommai had assured us about stopping the scheme from being implemented in Karnataka. He should now clarify what measures he has taken.”