'Seems possessed': Uddhav hits out at Bommai on Maha-Karnataka border dispute

The decades-old border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra has taken a new turn after Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday staked a claim to 40 villages in Maharashtra.

Published on: Nov 25, 2022, 06:20:02 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday joined forces against Karnataka chief minister Basavraj Bommai over the border dispute between the two neighbouring states and called the latter “possessed”.

Maharashtra EX CM and Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray at a Press Conference today at Matoshree, Bandra, in Mumbai, India, on Thursday, Nov 24, 2022. (Photo by Vijay Bate/HT Photo)

"The Karnataka Chief Minister is giving his statement on border issues. It seems like Karnataka CM Bommai has been possessed for suddenly staking a claim on 40 villages in Maharashtra?" Uddhav Thackeray said.

Thackeray's strong reaction came amid a war of words between Bommai and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over a decades-old border dispute after the Karnataka chief minister staked a claim to 40 villages in Maharashtra. Bommai claimed that some villages in Maharashtra's Sangli district, which are having a water crisis, passed a resolution seeking a merger with Karnataka.

Fadnavis said no village in Maharashtra would go to Karnataka.

"No village in Maharashtra will go to Karnataka! The state government will fight strongly in the Supreme Court to get Marathi-speaking villages including Belgaum-Karwar-Nipani," he had tweeted.

To this, Bommai said Fadnavis' “dream will never come true” and termed his remarks "provocative".

"Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has made a provocative statement on the Karnataka Maharashtra border issue and his dream will never come true. Our government is committed to protecting the country's land, water and borders," Bommai tweeted on Wednesday evening.

Maharashtra Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar condemned Bommai's remarks and asked chief minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy to "give a strong answer". He also sought the Centre's intervention on the issue.

Pawar said, "After claiming the villages of Jat taluka in Sangli district, now the Karnataka Chief Minister has claimed Akkalkot and Solapur too. I strongly condemn the statement of the Karnataka Chief Minister. Our chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis should give a strong answer. The centre should intervene immediately. The case is pending in court. It's to distract people and divert attention from inflation, unemployment."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.