Maharashtra-Karnataka border row: CM Eknath Shinde, Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis should give befitting reply to Basavaraj Bommai, says Ajit Pawar

NCP leader Ajit Pawar. File Pic

Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar on Friday said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis must give a befitting reply to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai for laying his state's claim on several areas of Maharashtra.

Bommai had claimed predominantly Kannada-speaking panchayats in Jat taluka in Sangli district had passed resolutions in the past to merge with Karnataka when there was a severe drought situation and acute drinking water crisis.

He had also sought the merger of Solapur and Akkalkot areas of the state with Karnataka.

Also Read: Shraddha Walkar murder case should be heard by fast-track court: Ajit Pawar

Speaking to reporters, Pawar said, "Without any reason, the Karnataka CM is making such statements. The CM and Deputy CM of Maharashtra should give a befitting answer. I have already condemned Bommai's statement."

No one should ever have the thought of taking even an inch of Maharashtra's land, the NCP leader added.

"On the other hand, the fight to bring Karvar, Belgavi and Nipani into Maharashtra has been underway for long and the border dispute is in the Supreme Court. The statement government should appoint top lawyers for the case," he said.

The responsibility of coordinating Maharashtra's efforts in the border dispute has been given to ministers Shambhuraje Desai and Chandrakant Patil and the opposition will cooperate completely with them, Pawar asserted.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.