No proposal under consideration to declare Marathi-speaking areas in Karnataka as UT: Govt tells LS

The Centre on Tuesday informed Lok Sabha that there is no proposal under consideration before the government to declare the areas dominated by Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka bordering Maharashtra as a Union Territory.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said demands and representations have been received from time to time from various individuals and organisations to declare these border areas as a Union Territory.

"However, no such proposal is under consideration," he said in a written reply.

Read | Border row: Shiv Sena wants Belgaum to be declared Union Territory

As per census 2011, the Marathi-speaking population in border sub-districts of Maharashtra-Karnataka is 55,98,325. The census showed a presence of Marathi-speaking people in Dudhani, Ichalkaranji, Kagal, Kamalnagar, Maindargi, Nippani, Sadalgi and Sankeshwar, the minister said.

Separately, the Shiv Sena, on Tuesday, in an editorial its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said Belagavi should be declared as a union territory, alleging that atrocities on Marathi-speaking people by pro-Kannada outfits continued in the region.

Also read — Marathi-speaking people in Belgaum under threat, alleges Shiv Sena MP, BJP counters