Declare Belagavi as Union Territory, Marathi-speaking people in city suppressed, says Aaditya Thackeray

Mumbai: Going back to basics, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday boycotted the customary address of the Governor to the joint session of the Maharashtra Legislature in the wake of developments in Belagavi (Belgaum), where the Karnataka government refused permission to the Marathi-speaking people to hold its annual convention.

The Karnataka government has denied permission to the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) to hold their 'maha melava' (grand convention) opposing the winter session of the Karnataka Legislature being held at Suvarna Vidhan Soudha in Belagavi.

Thackeray’s son Aaditya Thackeray, who is the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s legislature party leader, demanded that the Centre accords Union Territory (UT) status to Belagavi.

Aaditya asked the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maha Yuti dispensation to take the issue very seriously.

On the other hand, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention into the issue.

Meanwhile, Governor C P Radhakrishnan, in his address to the joint session after the election of the 15th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, said, "My government is strongly representing Maharashtra in the plea filed in the Supreme Court to resolve the Maharashtra-Karnataka border issue. The Government of Maharashtra is effectively implementing educational, medical and various other schemes for the benefit of the Marathi-speaking people residing in the border area.”

Aaditya said that the Marathi-speaking people in Belagavi are being suppressed. "Since Sunday, the situation has been deteriorating in the region. Our party workers are being detained. The previous 'unconstitutional' Chief Minister (Eknath Shinde) had promised that they would give extra funds to the Marathi-speaking people living in the disputed territory. What happened to that assurance," said Aaditya.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLA Uday Samant said, "This is nothing but Hitler-shahi of the Karnataka government."

Maharashtra claims 814 villages along the border, as well as Belgaum, Karwar, Nipani, and Bidar, and wants them to be included in the state - as a large population in these areas speak Marathi. The long-pending and vexed Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary dispute seems to be heading for a flashpoint between the two neighbouring states - and the matter is before the Supreme Court.

Earlier, the Shiv Sena (UBT) had urged the Karnataka government to allow the MES of Belgaum to hold a public gathering and permit leaders from Maharashtra to participate.

Meanwhile, Aaditya also wrote a letter to Fadanvis on this issue and urged that for providing justice to the Marathi-speaking people, the government should bring in a resolution seeking UT status to Belgaum, and assured full support of the Shiv Sena (UBT).