Belagavi Row: Maharashtra Deputy CM Fadnavis Speaks To Home Minister Amit Shah Over Border Row, Appeals For Intervention

The border issue between Karnataka and Maharashtra continues to simmer as activists on both sides resort to violence and protests on the streets in Belagavi and neighbouring districts.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he has spoken to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the phone and explained the prevailing situation.

“I have also brought to his notice that attacks over Maharashtra registered vehicles for no reason isn’t right. I also requested that he personally looks into the matter and ask the Chief Minister of Karnataka to ensure these attacks on vehicles of either states be stopped. He will definitely look into it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde tweeted on Thursday (8 December) about his meeting and discussion with Advocate Shivaji Jadhav who is representing the state in the border issue at the Supreme Court, where the hearing is due on 12 December.

He added saying, during this discussion it was decided that the state will “make all efforts to strongly present its case in order to ensure justice for our brothers in the border areas“.

The opposition parties of Maharashtra and alliance partners of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) were seen accusing Karnataka of conspiring against Maharashtra.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and MP from Baramati, Supriya Sule raised the issue in the parliament on the second day of the winter session accusing Karnataka Chief Minister of making ‘derogatory remarks’ on Maharashtra.

“People entering Karnataka from Maharashtra were beaten up. For the last ten days, there has been a conspiracy against Maharahstra, to break our state. And this is happening when both states are being ruled by BJP,” she accused.

She was also later seen with leaders of Uddhav Thackeray (UT) faction of Shiv Sena chanting aloud slogans demanding “Samyukta Maharashtra” that includes “Belagaon, Karwar, Nippani, Bidar, Bhalki”.

Shiv Sena(UT) MP Sanjay Raut meanwhile demanded that Belagavi be made a union territory and be brought under the union government’s adminsitration, warning that ‘else Maharashtra will have to take different steps’.

He also alleged that the violence in the region against Marathis had the backing of the centre, and incited ‘marathas to rise against it’.

Both Karnataka and Maharashta suspended state bus services ferrying between the two states after untoward incidents were reported on either sides of the border by resepctive language activists.