Uddhav Thackeray's statement on border issue 'sheer political one upmanship'; Karnataka Minister

Karnataka Minister S Suresh Kumar on Sunday termed as "sheer political one-upmanship," Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's statement raking up border issue between two states and vised him to concentrate on preventing COVID and on developmental activities.

state's Primary and Secondary Education Minister said that border issue was alrey well settled.

" Chief Minister of Maharashtra should concentrate on preventing COVID, on developmental activities and or things. He need t go back to things alrey well settled.

I think it is only to whip up passions and whipping up passions will t pay dividends se days," Kumar told PTI.

ting that people w want reforms and development, he said, Thackeray should be vised to concentrate on governance and relationship with his alliance partners.

"....it (border issue) is a well-settled thing, body can reopen this issue.

This is sheer political one-upmanship," he ded.

Thackeray earlier on Sunday h said that his government is committed towards incorporating into state areas of Karnataka where Marathi-speaking people are in majority.

"Bringing Karnataka-occupied Marathi-speaking and cultural areas in Maharashtra will be true tribute to those who accepted martyrdom in boundary battle.

We are united and committed towards it.

Respects to martyrs with this promise," Maharashtra CMO tweeted.

Maharashtra claims Belagavi and some or areas, which was part of erstwhile Bombay Presidency but currently in Karnataka, on linguistic grounds, contending that majority of population in se areas is Marathi-speaking.

Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti, a regional organisation fighting for merger of Belagavi and some or border areas with Maharashtra, observes January 17 as 'martyrs' day' for those who laid down ir lives for cause in 1956.

On its part, as an assertion that Belagavi is an integral part of state, Karnataka has built Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, modeled on Vidhana Soudha, state secretariat in Bengaluru, where legislature session is held once a year.