Maratha organizations in Karnataka oppose Maharashtra’s stand on Belgaum

Several Maratha organizations in Karnataka have decided to stand by Karnataka on its border row with neighbouring Maharashtra on the disputed frontier district of Belgaum.

Several Maratha organizations in the State including the Karnataka Maratha Parishat, Karnataka Kshatriya Maratha Sangh and Karnataka Marathi Welfare Association passed a resolution in Bangalore to oppose Maharashtra Government’s demand for merger of Marathi-speaking areas of Belgaum with Maharashtra.

The Maratha organizations have decided to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court seeking the implementation of Mahajan Commission Report, a long-pending demand of the Karnataka Government. Several Maratha leaders, who participated in a convention in Bangalore on Sunday, emphasized the need to counter Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi’s (MES) efforts to secure the merger of Belgaum with Maharashtra.

“Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka are not interested in identifying themselves with Maharashtra and we will file an affidavit to this effect in the Supreme Court, which is hearing the petition filed by Maharashtra Government seeking the transfer of Belgaum to that state”, said a resolution adopted at the convention of Maratha organizations in Bangalore, which was chaired by former Minister P G R Sindhia.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindhia said a delegation of leaders representing Maratha organizations in Karnataka will shortly meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and submit a memorandum expressing their stand on the border issue. “MES is exploiting the Maratha community and the name of Shivaji for its political benefit. Even Marathas settled in Belgaum are proud of having belonged to Karnataka and MES is aware of this. Bit , it is misleading the people for the sake of its political motives”, Sindhia said.

“We are leading a peaceful and contented life in Karnataka. The Government, the entrepreneurs and litterateurs are co-operating in our progress. We are happy to remain as people of Karnataka and we will convey this to the Supreme Court”.

Another former Minister S R Morey said the border dispute is a closed chapter. “Nobody should encourage the forces, which are trying to rake it up afresh”, he said