Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday helped diffuse the tension over the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka. He met the chief ministers of both states in New Delhi and suggested forming a committee of six ministers, three each from both sides, to resolve the issue and asked the states to not stake claim to any territory or create any demand till the Supreme Court decides the issue. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis represented Maharashtra, while CM Basavaraj Bommai and Home Minister Araga Jnanendra were present for Karnataka.

After the meeting, Shah said that such issues were not resolved in the streets but in a constitutional way. “The states will wait till the Supreme Court decides the issue. Till then, no state will stake claim or create a demand. A six-minister committee, with three from each side, will discuss the issue issues to find a solution,” he said, adding, “It was also decided to form a committee under a senior IPS officer to maintain law and order situation in the two states.”