Shah on Maha-K’taka border row: No state will make claim until SC verdict

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who chaired a meeting regarding the Maharashtra-Karnataka border row on Wednesday, said that the two states will not make any claim against each other until the Supreme Court gives its verdict.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Home Minister chaired a meeting with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde regarding the Maharashtra-Karnataka border issue.

Talking to reporters, Shah said, “The meeting between Maharashtra and Karnataka on the border issue was held in a positive atmosphere today. I had called the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Deputy CM, Karnataka Chief Minister, Home Minister and other senior leaders. Keeping a positive approach, Chief Ministers of both states agreed that a resolution should be reached in a constitutional manner,” he said.

Shah said that no party will make any “claim” against each other until the Supreme Court gives a decision on the matter. “Until the Supreme Court gives the decision in the matter, none of the two states will make any claim on each other. Three ministers each from both sides will meet and discuss the issue and ensure that it percolates to the lowest level. The ministers will also resolve other issues pending between the two states”, he said.

A committee will be formed under a senior IPS officer to ensure that linguistic groups, traders and merchants and travellers will not be affected in any way, Shah said.

He also urged the opposition parties of both states to not “politicise” the issue. “I urge the Opposition parties of both Maharashtra and Karnataka not to politicise this issue. We should wait for the outcome of the discussions of the committee formed to resolve this issue and the decision of the Supreme Court. I am confident that NCP, Congress, and the Uddhav Thackeray group will cooperate”, he said.

After the implementation of the State Reorganisation Act of 1956, the Maharashtra government demanded the readjustment of its border with Karnataka. Following this, a four-member committee was formed by both states.

Maharashtra government had expressed willingness to transfer 260 predominantly Kannada-speaking villages, but it was turned down by Karnataka. Now, both the Karnataka and Maharashtra governments have approached the Supreme Court to expedite the matter, and the matter is still pending. (ANI)