Hindustan Times (Noida)

Thackeray’s border remark triggers row

- Press Trust Of India letters@hindustant­imes.com

Protests erupted in parts of Karnataka on Monday, including in the district headquarte­rs city of Belagavi, with state leaders condemning Maharashtr­a chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s statement on the sensitive border issue. “There is no question of giving even an inch of land from Karnataka to Maharashtr­a. He should give up issuing statements just for political reasons,” Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurapp­a said. Thackeray had said on Sunday that his government is committed towards incorporat­ing into the state the areas of Karnataka where Marathi-speaking people are in majority. On Monday, pro-kannada organisati­ons held demonstrat­ions and burnt Thackeray’s effigy in parts of the state. Congress leader Siddaramai­ah said Belagavi is an integral part of Karnataka.

Protests erupted in parts of Karnataka on Monday including in the district headquarte­rs city of Belagavi condemning Maharashtr­a chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s statement on the sensitive border issue.

Political leaders cutting across party lines came down heavily on Thackeray.

“There is no question of giving even an inch of land from Karnataka to Maharashtr­a. He should give up issuing statements just for political reasons,” Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurapp­a told reporters on Monday.

“I am pained at Maharashtr­a CM’S remarks that can disturb the prevailing harmonious atmosphere.i expect Shri Uddhav Thackeray, as a true Indian, to show his commitment and respect to the principles of federalism in letter and spirit,” Yediyurapp­a said in a tweet.

Thackeray said on Sunday his government is committed towards incorporat­ing into the state the areas of Karnataka where Marathi-speaking people are in majority.

This will be the “true tribute” to martyrs of the cause, the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said in a tweet.

Maharashtr­a claims Belagavi (earlier called as Belgaum) and some other areas, part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency but currently in Karnataka, on linguistic grounds.

Maharashtr­a Ekikaran Samiti, a regional organisati­on fighting for the merger of Belagavi and some other border areas with Maharashtr­a, observes January 17 as the ‘martyrs day’ for those who laid down their lives for the cause in 1956.

Hitting out at Thackeray, former chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramai­ah tweeted, “Belagavi is an integral part of Karnataka. Don’t try to instigate us by bringing up the issue which is already resolved.” Cautioning Thackeray not to politicise the issue which is already decided, Siddaramai­ah reminded him that he is not just a Shiv Sena activist but also a responsibl­e chief minister of a state.

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