Straight answers

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">Sanjay Raut</span><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">, Shiv Sena MP, On the party''s opposition to the appointment of S M Krishna as the Governor of Maharashtra</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Why are you against the appointment of S M Krishna? </span><br /><br />We have no personal agenda against Krishna. He is a good administrator and a cultured man. But the bottomline is whether he will stand for the cause of Maharashtra in the impending border war with Karnataka? So far, over 180 people have been killed in this fight. This is an emotional issue for the state.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Are you saying that Krishna is anti-Maharashtra?</span><br /><br />The border issue with Karnataka is pending in the Supreme Court. We have watched Krishna take a firm stand for his state till now. How can we accept someone as our constitutional head, when he is historically known to take a stand against us? <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Why are you pre-empting his actions before his term begins?</span><br /><br />Because, despite our opposition, Krishna has yet to clear his stance on this issue. This raises doubts. For the past 40 years, there was an unofficial understanding that no politician from Maharashtra or Karnataka will assume charge or a position in each others states due to the sensitivity of the border issue. So why now?<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How far will you take the ‘No Krishna'' campaign?</span><br /><br />We will continue to raise the issue at every platform. This appointment has to be reconsidered. Our head of state cannot be someone who has opposed us throughout his career. And has got his present position only because of his closeness with top politicians in the state and a Union minister at the Centre. We will be on high alert. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Aren''t there more important issues facing the state than this one?</span><br /><br />What other issues is the Congress raising? Their coalition partner -- the NCP -- is also unhappy on this issue.<br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">smita.deshmukh@timesgroup.com</span></div> </div>