Border row: Karnataka assembly to pass resolution saying Reorganisation Act is final

Clarifying his stand on the interstate border dispute, Bommai said: “The state border dispute is a closed chapter for Karnataka since we have accepted the State Reorganisation Act, 1956. The government will not keep quiet on the matter.”

“We will not compromise on the interstate border issue. Not an inch of land will be given to Maharashtra. If everyone (legislators) agrees, we will pass a resolution,” the chief minister said. All MLAs agreed to the suggestion.

Participating in the discussion, Siddaramaiah said the question of border dispute does not arise. “It is a conspiracy by the Maharashtra government for political gains and to create tension in the border areas. Maharashtra is going against the constitution and creating unwanted disputes on the matter.”

“The Mahajan Commission report is final and the matter is already settled. The Maharashtra government seems to have forgotten that they are living in a federal structure,” the opposition leader added.

Congress objects to CMs’ meeting

Taking exception to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairing a meeting with Karnataka and Maharashtra on the interstate border dispute, Congress leaders, including Siddaramaiah and Gadag MLA HK Patil, who was the former border in-charge minister, said Bommai should have skipped the meeting.

Karnataka assembly’s leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah objects to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai participating in a  meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on 14 December 14. (Twitter)

“The government of Maharashtra wanted to show their people that the border dispute is still alive. Maharashtra is against the federal system. They are not good people. It is not a double-engine but a triple-engine government at the helm. You (Bommai) should have asked the Centre not to interfere in the matter,” Siddaramaiah said.

Replying, Bommai said: “The Union Home Minister called a meeting on maintaining law and order in both states. The Union Government has not given any opinion on the border dispute.”

“There is no ambiguity or confusion in the border dispute. I have mentioned Karnataka’s stand at the chief ministers’ meeting,” he added.

HK Patil objects to the ministerial committee

Veteran Congress leader HK Patil criticised the state government for agreeing to constitute a six-member ministerial committee. The panel will have three ministers each from Karnataka and Maharashtra. Karnataka agreed to the setting up of the panel at the meeting chaired by Amit Shah in Delhi on 14 December.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai

“Is the situation so grave? Has the law and order situation deteriorated in Belagavi? Is the Karnataka Home Minister inefficient in handling the situation,” Patil asked.

Bommai replied that Karnataka has always spoken in one voice on the border dispute issue. “I hail from this region (North Karnataka). I am speaking with responsibility and I am speaking the truth,” he said.

“The state government has taken it (the dispute) seriously. There is no dilution in our stand. We have mentioned Karnataka’s stand,” Bommai added.

However, Patil demanded the chief minister disclose the issues discussed at the meeting Shah had chaired.

He also drew attention to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s objection to tweets from a fake Karnataka chief minister’s Twitter handle.

Replying to Patil, Bommai said the meeting was convened at a short notice. “The meeting was convened in barely 15 minutes. We have made our stand clear in the border dispute. The meeting was more about maintaining peace and law and order in the border areas.”

“The Union home minister has clearly stated that both states should not claim rights on the border areas until the Supreme Court gives its verdict on the matter. The government is committed to protecting the interest of the people residing in the border areas and Kannadigas living in Maharashtra,” Bommai assured.

On the tweet from the fake handle, Bommai said: “We verified it after the Maharashtra government pointed out the provocative tweets.

Siddaramaiah calls for an all-party meeting

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah expressed displeasure over the government not convening an all-party meeting to discuss the border dispute.

“Chief Minister Bommai should have chaired an all-party meeting on the border dispute before taking part in the meeting convened by the Union home minister. We would have expressed our views on the matter. I will reiterate that we are one and the government has our support in the matter,” Siddaramaiah stated.

Expressing regret for not convening an all-party meeting, Bommai said: “I was informed only a day in advance about the Union home minister’s meeting.”

“I thought that as the next hearing on the border dispute is scheduled for January, it would be appropriate to call an all-party meeting next month. I will chair the meeting at the earliest,” he assured the House.

Siddaramaiah welcomes curbs on MES activities

Siddaramaiah welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to curb the activities of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) on the inaugural day of the assembly’s winter session in Belagavi on 19 December.

“The MES creates a nuisance on the inaugural day of the winter session in Belagavi city every year. This year it has been stopped. I also welcome the efforts of the Karnataka government in preventing Shiv Sena MP Dhairyasheel Mane from entering Karnataka,” Siddaramaiah lauded.