Will BJP agree if PM Modi gives Belagavi to Maharashtra? asks HDK

Bengaluru: Reacting to Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi’s statement requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in the Belagavi border dispute, HD Kumaraswamy said that there is no need for any mediation in this issue, asking whether the prime minister not be influenced by the Maharashtra BJP and will the BJP accept if Belagavi is given to Maharashtra.

In a series of six tweets, the former chief minister said that a leader of the Shiv Sena demanded an all-party delegation must visit Belagavi as Marathi-speakers are under attack in the city. This frequent talk about the border and language issue is a diversion and condemnable. Shiv Sena is involving in such diversionary actions as people in the State are not happy with the State’s government.

“Shiv Sena is speaking as if pro-Kannada workers in Belagavi hoisting Kannada flag are committing some crime. Belagavi is ours. It is our right to hoist the Kannada flag there. Maharashtra has no right to question this. They said that for the past eight days Marathi-speakers are being attacked in Belagavi. First, who attacked our buses at Kolhapur? Kannada-speakers were attacked in the city when Marathi boards were being removed. After all this Maharashtra is trying to draw attention to false accusations,” he added.

“Maharashtra argues that the Vidhan Soudha was illegally constructed as the second capital in Belagavi. It was built in my term, to bring it to the notice of Maharashtra that the Suvarna Soudha is the symbol of the State’s sovereignty against the expansionism of Maharashtra,” he said.

“The Mahajan Commission report is final on the border issue. The Commission was set up because of the stubbornness of Maharashtra and it clearly stated that Belagavi belongs to Karnataka. Maharashtra trying to reignite the legal struggle on it will be a waste. It would be better if the neighbouring State stops issuing expansionist statements,” Kumaraswamy tweeted.