Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute News

"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.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured the House that a resolution on the border row would be tabled in a day or two.

Maharashtra-Karnataka 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.

Till the issue is pending before the Supreme Court, the "Karnataka-occupied Maharashtra should be declared as a Union Territory by the central government," said Uddhav Thackeray in the state Legislative Council.

Maharashtra has been demanding merger of Belagavi and a few other neighbouring regions in Karnataka on the ground that these places have a substantial Marathi-speaking population.

Both the Houses of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly would pass a resolution on the border dispute with Maharashtra. The Legislature reiterated the state's stand that the issue was settled, and that not even an inch of land would be given to the neighboring state.

Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray faction and NCP is set to hold a protest rally on December 17 against the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute and various other issues.

Reacting to Amit Shah's meeting with Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai, Uddhav Thackeray said that nothing came out of the meeting. 

Maharashtra-Karnataka border row dates back to 1957 when the states were being reorganised 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 staked claim to 814 Marathi-speaking villages which are currently part of Karnataka. 

In Kolhapur district of Maharashtra, the gathering of more than 5 people is prohibited till 23 December. The Kolhapur Collector has issued the order under Section 37 of the Maharashtra Police Act. This order has been issued in view of the massive demonstration of Mahavikas Aghadi yesterday.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav) MP Sanjay Raut said, "The way Shivaji has been insulted in the state by governor, people here are upset and angry and this is another way of driving the attention from the matter."

Karnataka and Maharashtra have been at loggerheads for decades over areas along their border in districts like Belagavi, Karwar and Nipani. The issue of the disputed border area has been pending in the Supreme Court for several years. Belagavi, Karwar and Nipani are a part of Karnataka and have Marathi-speaking people.