Maha CM writes to PM, seeks intervention over border row

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking the Centre's immediate intervention in Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking the Centre's immediate intervention in Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute.

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"Karnataka government should be told to stop atrocities against Marathi-speaking people in that state," Chavan said.

"An all-party delegation would like to meet you to discus the issue," the chief minister said in the letter.

Chavan pointed to the arrest of senior PWP leader N D Patil at Belgaum on January 16 and the fact that Karnataka government organised a session of the legislature at Belgaum despite the boundary row pending before the Supreme Court.

"A status quo should be maintained in the disputed border area of Karnataka in keeping with democratic norms," Chavan said.

The Karnataka Legislature session was held at Belgaum this month in the backdrop of protests from Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) which is seeking merger of 856 villages and towns of Karnataka, including Belgaum, Karwar and Nippani, with the Western state.

Karnataka has been rejecting Maharashtra's claim over the Marathi-speaking areas. The boundary dispute, which has led to violent protests in the past, is now pending before the Supreme Court.