'Childish': CM Siddaramaiah on Aaditya Thackeray’s demand to declare Belagavi a Union Territory

Belagavi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday described as “childish” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray’s demand to make Belagavi a Union Territory.

“It’s a childish statement. The Mahajan report is final. So, neither should we ask for anything and nor should they. How can it be declared as Union Territory just because someone asked for it?” Siddaramaiah said.

Asked about Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti’s plan to stage protests, Siddaramaiah said: “If MES protests, will we keep quiet?”

MES had plans to organise a mega convention in Belagavi coinciding with the start of the winter session of the legislature at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here.

Earlier on Monday, Aaditya wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urging him to push for a proposal to declare Belagavi and Karwar as Union Territories saying that the “Marathi Manus” are facing injustice there.

“We are ready to unanimously support the proposal to make Belgaum a Union Territory for the justice of the Marathi people,” Aaditya said, adding: “Belgaum is and will remain an integral part of Marathi identity!”

Maharashtra has, on linguistic grounds, laid claim on Belagavi (Belgaum), a part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency that is currently one of Karnataka’s largest districts.

Karnataka maintains that the border dispute was settled with the Mahajan Commission. It recommended that Belagavi should remain in Karnataka.