Laxman Savadi, the deputy chief minister of Karnataka, mocked Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over his comments on Belgaum dispute.
Laxman Savadi, the deputy chief minister of Karnataka, mocked Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over Belgaum dispute requesting the Central government to declare Mumbai as a Union Territory.
“Mumbai should be included in Karnataka. Until that is done, I request Central government to declare Mumbai as a Union Territory,” Savadi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Earlier on Wednesday, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray said areas dominated by Marathi-speaking people on the state’s border with Karnataka should be declared as a Union Territory till the Supreme Court gives its final verdict on the issue.
The Shiv Sena chief, speaking at the launch of a book on the boundary dispute between the two states, slammed the neighbouring Karnataka government over alleged atrocities on Marathi-speaking population in those areas, and said there is a need to fight to win the case for their inclusion in Maharashtra.
Certain areas of Karnataka, including Belgaum, Karwar and Nippani, are claimed by Maharashtra, contending the majority of the population in these areas is Marathi-speaking.
The case over the dispute between the two states is pending before the Supreme Court for many years.
The Maharashtra CM, who has raked up the issue recently, said: “When the case is being heard in the Supreme Court, the Karnataka government renames Belgaum, declares it as its second capital, constructs a Legislature building and holds one legislature session there.”
He asked: “Isn’t this contempt of court?”
“Karnataka-occupied Marathi-speaking areas should be declared as a Union Territory till the Supreme Court gives its final verdict,” Mr Thackeray said.
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