Maharashtra Assembly Passes Resolution To Legally Seek Inclusion Of 865 Marathi-Speaking villages in Karnataka

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday moved a resolution to 'legally pursue' inclusion of 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka into the western state.

The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly unanimously passed this resolution amid the raging boundary dispute between the two states.

'The state government stands resolutely with the Marathi-speaking people in 865 villages. The state government will legally pursue in the Supreme Court the case to include inch and inch of land of the 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka,' said the resolution passed in the Maharashtra Assembly.

The Karnataka Legislative Assembly had on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution on border row with Maharashtra, resolving to protect the southern state's interests and not to cede an inch of land to its neighbour. The resolution had also condemned the border dispute 'created' by Maharashtra.

The border issue dates back to 1957 after the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines. Maharashtra laid claim to Belagavi, which was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, as it has a sizeable Marathi-speaking population. It also laid claim to more than 800 Marathi-speaking villages which are currently part of Karnataka.

Earlier this week, former CM Uddhav Thakeray had sought that the ’disputed regions’ be decalred a union territory. Thakeray speaking before the legislative council, said “Karnataka-occupied Maharashtra” should be declared as a Union Territory by the central government, until the matter is pending before the apex court.

Thackeray had questioned the state government's stand on it as well as the central government's role as 'guardian' of both the states.

The Karnataka legislature has reiterated the state's stand that the border issue is a settled one, and not an inch of land will be given to the neighbouring state.

With inputs from PTI