Priyank Kharge warns Maharashtra against actions that may trigger friction in border district in Karnataka

Expressing concern over the Maharashtra government’s decision to support Marathi-speaking residents on the inter-State border dispute, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday warned the neighbouring State against any actions that may trigger friction in Karnataka.

A high-power committee of the Maharashtra government on Wednesday held a meeting to review issues related to the boundary dispute and declared support to the Marathi-speaking residents of border areas in Karnataka in the legal fight.

“Maharashtra is free to provide any legal help to their groups (like Maharashtra Ekikarana Samiti in the border city of Belagavi). But if their acts lead to frictions here, we will not allow it,” Mr. Kharge said.

Speaking to presspersons, the Karnataka Home Minister said, “It is not acceptable if you (Maharashtra) as a government support everything done by them (MES). I am sure and I hope that Maharahstra has such maturity.”

“Let them support their groups. We do not have any locus standi to oppose it. But we will not keep quiet when it comes to the question of protecting our land, language and water,” he said.

Insisting that any fight over boundary dispute should be only legal in nature, Mr. Priyank Kharge said, “Whether it is Maharashtra, Kerala, Goa, Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh, they have to fight only legally. They cannot redraw the State boundary line as per their whims and fancies just because any organisation, Chief Minister or Minister wants it. These boundaries have been done by State re-organisation committee based on linguistic principles.”

Caste census

Mr. Priyank Kharge ridiculed the BJP for accusing the Congress of trying to dump the caste census report. “The report is yet to come before the State Cabinet. We will take a decision after discussing it in the Cabinet. But let the BJP advise us on caste census after implementing it in all the BJP-ruled States,” he said.

Seeking to turn the tables on the BJP, which has demanded a waiver of farm loans, he urged the BJP to get the support of its government at the Centre for such a waiver.

“The Chief Minister is reviewing the drought situation at all the regional headquarters. He is in the process of submitting a memorandum to the Centre to get drought-hit tag for the affected areas. Let the BJP talk to their government at the Centre and help in this issue,” he said.

Cabinet expansion

Replying to queries, he said the ministerial expansion was likely to take place in a week or two.