Karnataka ready to include Kannadiga dominated areas in Maharashtra, if they pass resolution: CM Basavaraj Bommai

BENGALURU: In a direct challenge to successive governments in Maharashtra that have claimed that

Belagavi

should be part of their state, Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said the state is ready to include all those panchayat, taluks or districts that are

Kannadiga

dominated into Karnataka if they pass a resolution in this regard.


The controversial statement by the CM came in light of the debate over the border dispute and language row in Belagavi which has taken a violent turn for the last four days.

Citing that Maharashtra political outfits has been trying to rake up the border dispute time and again for political gains, CM Bommai said Karnataka has already accepted the Justice Mahajan report in the border dispute case but was also ready to protect the interests of the Kannadiga community in the border areas of the neighboring state.

CM Bommai cited the supposed example of 40 gram panchayats in Jath tehsil of Sangli district in Maharashtra which have passed the resolution to be added into Karnataka after they have expressed their disappointment of that state not being able to provide them water for irrigation.

“Now, this dry land area which is Kannadiga dominated, has passed the resolution to be added to Karnataka. We (Karnataka) are ready to include all those areas, except for those regions which have been mentioned in the Mahajan report where the status quo shall be maintained,” said Bommai.

He said the state has always tried to maintain a cordial relation with Maharashtra but has been unsuccessful in the border area which has remained tense over the years, since the birth of Maharashtra Ekikarna Samiti (MES).

“While it was once a strong power centre, its influence has been waning in Belagavi and the border dispute appears to be its way of trying to come back to gain influence. However, it has been rejected by the people of the district,” he said.

CM Bommai, on demands over banning MES, said he will look into the matter and secure legal opinion in this regard.

The CM, during his statement on the border row also said he will speak to his counterpart in Maharashtra to resolve the law and order issue in that state as Kannadigas have been targeted in this issue.