Fadnavis, Shinde condemn 'injustice against Marathi-speaking people' by Karnataka govt

'The Karnataka government's stance that Marathi people should not hold meetings is a violation of Constitutional rights,' said Maharashtra CM Fadnavis.

Mumbai: Condemning the developments against Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka's Belagavi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the 12 crore people of the state and Marathi people from all of the world stands behind the Marathi-speaking people in the bordering areas of the neighbouring state.

"We condemn the injustice being done by the Karnataka government to the Marathi speaking people in the border areas including Belgaum. The Karnataka government's stance that Marathi people should not hold meetings is a violation of Constitutional rights," said Fadnavis, who heads the BJP-led Maha Yuti government also comprising Shiv Sena and NCP

"Also, a minister in the Karnataka government has stated that he will remove the portrait of Swatantra Veer Savarkar from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly... this is serious and the state government condemns this incident," said Fadnavis.

"We have provided education, health services for the Marathi-speaking people in the border areas. Our government will continue to be ready to solve the problems of the Marathi speaking people in the border areas," he added.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also condemned the “suppressive tactics” used by Karnataka police against activists of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti who were protesting in Belagavi.

Earlier in the day, Karnataka police detained leaders and activists of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) who were opposing the winter session of Karnataka legislature being held at Suvarna Vidhan Soudha. "The stance of the Karnataka government to oppose Marathi speaking people in the border areas (with Maharashtra) is unjust," Shinde said in the state legislative council in Mumbai.

(With PTI inputs)