Sena-Congress tiff reignites over Karnataka-Maha border; DK Shivakumar slams Thackeray

Lashing out at Congress' Maharashtra ally - Shiv Sena, Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar on Monday, slammed Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's promise to 'get back Marathi-speaking areas from Karnataka'. Echoing CM Yediyurappa, Shivakumar said that 't one inch from Karnataka will be given to Karnataka'. Maharashtra CM reignited regional issue on Sunday, stating that bringing back Marathi-speaking areas of Karnataka into state was only befitting tribute to martyrs.

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Congress: 't one inch of Karnataka'

Earlier in day, CM BS Yediyurappa condemned his Maharashtra counterpart's statement sayng that his government would t even give an inch of land from Karnataka to neighbouring state. Similarly, senior Congress leer Siddaramaiah slammed Maharashtra CM for his statement and warned against instigating people of Karnataka. Calling upon Thackeray to act in a responsible manner, former CM me it clear that people will never compromise or politicize on matters related to land, water and langu of Karnataka. 

't going to give an inch of land from this side': Yediyurappa takes on Maharashtra CM

CM: 'Will incorporate Marathi-speaking Karnataka'

On Sunday,  CM Uddhav Thackeray paid tribute to martyrs of border war, stating that bringing back Marathi-speaking areas of Karnataka into state was only befitting tribute. Asserting his commitment to solve 'border dispute', Thackeray ded promised to fulfill it. Thackeray h reignited regional issue in December 2019, when he referred to Belgaum as  'Karnataka-occupied-Maharashtra' in Assembly.

"Like PoK, re was a Karnataka-occupied Maharashtra. People in Belgaum are t only Hindus but also Marathi-speaking people and wanted to be part of Maharashtra. However, y are facing oppression from BJP-led government in Karnataka. Even for speaking truth, Belgaum mayor was booked for treason," he said in Assembly. Later Shiv Sena workers burnt effigies of Karnataka CM Yediyurappa in Kolhapur, stopped state transport buses from going to Belgaum and stalled screening of a Kanna film in a atre Kolhapur.

Maharashtra CM promises to get back 'Marathi-speaking' border areas from Karnataka

Karnataka-Maharashtra border issue

border issue involves a set of 800+ vills along with Belgaum district being claimed by Maharashtra as a part of state on linguistic grounds. Marathi-speaking majority district, which was previously a part of Bombay presidency was given to Karnataka after independence. While several Maharashtra leers including Senapati Bapat have fought for regaining Belgaum, government-appointed Mahajan Commission awarded Maharashtra 264 vills including Nandag, Nippani Khanapur in 1967, but let Karnataka keep Belgaum, while Kasargod went to Kerala. Later in 2005, Maharashtra government filed a petition in Supreme Court staking claim over Belgaum. Supreme Court began its hearing on Maharashtra's petition on 17 January 2007 and is still being heard in apex court.

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