Manmohan Singh today sought to mollify Maharashtra by indicating that steps would be taken to protect the rights of linguistic minorities in border areas.
Amid the heat over Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary dispute, prime minister Manmohan Singh today sought to mollify Maharashtra by indicating that steps would be taken to protect the rights of linguistic minorities in border areas.
The assurance was understood to have been given by Singh to an all-party delegation from Maharashtra led by chief minister Ashok Chavan.
The prime minister's assurance came in the backdrop of political parties in Maharashtra reacting sharply to the counter affidavit filed by the Centre on the contentious issue in the Supreme Court last month, which was welcomed by Karnataka but created a row in Maharashtra.
"The contents and tone of the affidavit have caused strong reaction across the state and the border area. Reports of use of force by Karnataka police on the peaceful Marathi-speaking demonstrators has also been received in Maharashtra",
the delegation said in the memorandum.
Chavan had yesterday demanded the Centre make 865 Marathi-speaking villages of Karnataka an Union Territory till the Supreme Court settles the border dispute between the two states.
The Centre, in reply to Maharashtra's claim over Karnataka's Marathi-speaking districts like Gulbarga and Belgaum, had told the Supreme Court last week that language can't be the only criteria for deciding state boundaries, a stance that had led to protests in Maharashtra as well as border areas of Karnataka.
The delegation regretted that alleged use of force by Karnataka has resulted in "injustice, gross violation of human rights and has caused considerable pain among the Marathi-speaking population in Maharashtra and elsewhere".
The chief minister said that both the Houses of Maharashtra legislature have resolved to request the Centre to review its stand on the border issue, take immediate steps to resolve the same and stop the injustice being caused to the people in the disputed area.
Deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal warned of "unrest"
if the injustice continued against the Marathi-speaking
people.
Noting that the protection of rights of linguistic minorities is enshrined in the Constitution, the prime minister assured the delegation that the home minister will be asked to examine the matter and take steps that deem fit, Chavan said.
As regards the boundary dispute, the prime minister declined to comment noting that it was sub-judice, the chief minister said.
In the memorandum submitted to the PM, Maharashtra, however, sidestepped the demand for turning the disputed areas into a union territory till the apex court decides the issue.
Delegation members said the issue of turning the disputed areas into union territory was dropped due to the opposition of the BJP.
The chief minister and the deputy chief minister said the delegation urged the Centre to take a "neutral" stand on the boundary dispute.
Chavan said they told the prime minister that Maharashtra was ready to fight the case in the apex court on merit and "our case has merit".
"I will await the response of the home minister", remarked the Chief Minister when asked about the possibility of the Centre facilitating talks of the chief ministers of the two states for an amicable resolution of the boundary dispute.
The chief minister said Maharashtra wanted the Centre to ensure that Karnataka maintained the status quo in the disputed areas till the suit in the apex court was disposed off.
Besides, it demanded that Karnataka refrain from imposition of Kannada and office of the Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities of India be asked to investigate complaints in this regard.
The National Human Rights Commission should go into the human rights violations in those areas.
Replying to a question, the chief minister dismissed a suggestion to take the all-party delegation to BJP president Nitin Gadkari since his party is ruling Karnataka.
Besides the chief minister who belongs to Congress, the delegation comprised of Bhujbal and state home minister RR Patil (both NCP), leader of the Opposition Eknath Khadse and Sudhir Mungantiwar (both BJP), Subhash Desai and Diwakar Raote (Shiv Sena), Ganpat Rao Deshmukh (PWP).
Five central ministers, including former chief ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushilkumar Shinde as also Prithviraj Chavan , Gurudas Kamat and Prateek Patil were also present.
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