BELAGAVI, CHIKKODI: Days after villagers of Jath taluk in Sangli district of Maharashtra threatened to merge with Karnataka over lack of drinking water and irrigation facilities, 40 villages in Akkalkot taluk are now saying that they too want to join Karnataka, causing much consternation for the Maharasthtra government. This comes at a time when the two states are locked in a legal battle over the border issue.
Kannada-speaking resident of villages in Akkalkot taluk say they are ready to pass a resolution to this effect from the gram panchayat and cite the Mahajan Commission report. They say that the Maharashtra government has not provided them with drinking water facilities, good roads, Kannada schools and other basic facilities.
“Several representations to the local MLA have gone in vain. The government must respond to our problems and develop the border villages, or else we will merge with Karnataka, as recommended by the Mahajan Commission. We will also meet Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and appeal to him”, the villagers said.
Meanwhile, Kannada activists staged a protest at Haliyal Circle in Athani demanding that Jath, Solhapur, Kolhapur and Latur should be merged with Karnataka. They also presented Kannada shawls to drivers of Maharashtra state transport corporation bus drivers.
The protesters also raised slogans against the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), Shiv Sena and Marathi activists.