Shiv Sena says it will continue to raise border dispute issue

Demanding a discussion on Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute over Belgaum in the Rajya Sabha, Shiv Sena today said it would continue to raise the issue during Question Hour till its demands were not met.

"A discussion on the issue was allowed on August 11. But on Friday, we were informed that the discussion has been cancelled. When we raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, we were informed that the discussion has been cancelled as the matter is sub-judice," Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut told reporters here.

Sena leader in the Rajya Sabha Manohar Joshi had raised the issue in the House earlier today.

Raut claimed that his party would continue to seek a discussion by suspending the Question Hour till its demand was accepted.

"Even the issue of Ayodhya and Bhopal gas tragedy are sub-judice. When discussions can take place on the two issues,
how can the border dispute be ignored," he questioned.

Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari has called for an all-party meeting to decide on the issue, he said, adding if Sena's demands were turned down, the party would continue to rake up the matter in the Upper House.

"How else can we raise the people's sentiments on the issue in Parliament," Raut said. 

Belgaum currently is a part of Karnataka and earlier the erstwhile Bombay Presidency. It is claimed by Maharashtra on linguistic grounds.