JOIN USAn all-party delegation from Maharashtra will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday to demand Union Territory status to the disputed boundary areas with Karnataka, even as the state assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution asking the Centre to do a rethink on its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on the issue. The delegation, led by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, will comprise leaders of the ruling Congress-NCP coalition as well as the BJP, Shiv Sena and the MNS.
Ongoing disturbances in the border areas and the subsequent violence and police action had its echo in both Houses of the state legislature, leading to repeated adjournments. The members raised anti-Karnataka slogans and demanded immediate resolution of the boundary dispute. Chavan flayed the violence and the police lathicharge on Marathi-speaking people in Belgaum and said the state would demand UT status for the boundary areas.