Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh told the legislative assembly that he shared the sentiments expressed by members of the House demanding the Centre’s intervention, following “increase in the excesses” by the Karnataka government after Maharashtra’s filing of aSpecial Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court. He was replying to an adjournment motion moved by the leader of opposition Ramdas Kadam, who said 865 villages and town in the boundary areas, including Belgaum, Karwar and Nipani “are waiting for the dawn of freedom”.

Deep anxiety
Kadam expressed deep anxiety over the alleged excesses committed by the Karnataka government on the Marathi people in boundary areas.

Kadam said Kannada should not be made compulsory for the Marathi-speaking people till the apex court delivered its judgement on the state’s SLP. Similarly, there should be no repeat of the incident like dissolution of pro-Marathi Belgaum civic body, he said.

He also demanded that the boundary areas should be declared as Union Territories pending the Supreme Court decision.

It may be recalled that the Maharashtra government had made a plea to the SC for this purpose but the SC had turned down the request.

The BJP floor leader Eknath Khadse rued that the “injustice” meted out to the Marathi people “have not been reduced” despite unanimous resolutions passed by both houses of the Maharashtra legislature in almost every session.

Legislators gagged
Jansurajya party member Narsing Patil alleged that the Marathi-speaking legislators elected to the Karnataka assembly from the boundary areas are not allowed to speak in Marathi or even in Hindi.

Deshmukh said the SLP is pending in the Supreme Court and the state has hired the best legal brains to present its case. He said since Karnataka was under the President’s rule, the sentiments of the house would be conveyed to the Governor of that state.

In the legislative council, the deputy chief minister R R Patil launched a spirited scathing attack on the Central government for “ignoring” the pains of 40 lakh Marathi people in the boundary areas. “If something happens in Mumbai or Maharashtra, then the Centre immediately takes notice; the human rights commission and other such commissions immediately intervene but they never felt pity for the 40 lakh Marathi people who are struggling since decades for justice,” he said.