Fight with K’taka unites Maha political enemies

NCP chief Sharad Pawar threatens to visit Belagavi if situation not controlled in 48 hours

MUMBAI: The border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka intensified on Tuesday after heavy vehicles bearing Maharashtra number plates were attacked with stones by a local pro-kannada group called the ‘Karnataka Rakshana Vedike’ (KRV) at Hire Bagewadi on the outskirts of Belagavi in Karnataka. Around six heavy vehicles were reportedly damaged in the incident.

After months of bitter acrimony between the ruling combine in Maharashtra and the Opposition, politicians cutting across party lines spoke out in one voice against the happenings in Karnataka.

Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis dialled Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and expressed his displeasure. “We are extremely disappointed with the developments. Such incidents are not acceptable,” Fadnavis told Bommai, adding that strong measures needed to be initiated by Karnataka to avoid a backlash in Maharashtra, which had shown a lot of restraint, as it did not want to escalate the border dispute.

After his tete-a-tete with Bommai, Fadnavis said the Karnataka CM had promised to take stringent action against the miscreants and had also promised protection to buses coming to Karnataka. However, the situation in border areas remained tense, with the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) stopping its services to Karnataka, following an advisory issued by the state home department.

Fadnavis added that he would talk to Union home minister Amit Shah to look into the issue. “The Centre, state and Karnataka governments will ensure that the situation does not get out of hand,” he later told mediapersons. “Pawar won’t need to go to Belagavi.” The reference was to NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s reaction to the violence. Pawar, who had been silent on the border dispute thus far, came out all guns blazing against Bommai. He not only accused Bommai of making provocative statements to gain political advantage in the upcoming assembly elections but also charged him with disrespecting the Supreme Court where the border dispute matter is expected to come up for hearing soon.

“Maharashtra has shown patience so far but there’s a limit to everything. If our vehicles are attacked, there are bound to be repercussions. If there are, the Karnataka chief minister and his government will be responsible for the mess,” Pawar said, adding the Karnataka government had endangered the unity of the country, and the Centre could not remain a mute spectator in the case.