K’taka border row: Raj blames state MPs

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray blamed the state politicos for the Centre’s stand on the border dispute with Karnataka.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray blamed the state politicos for the Centre’s stand on the border dispute with Karnataka.

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The Centre has been unjust to Maharashtra right from the Nehru era and state parliamentarians were only aiding this by bowing before their dictates.

Speaking to his partymen on the third anniversary of the foundation day of MNS railway union on Friday, Thackeray blamed the parliamentarians for the row.

“Our members of Parliament have no time for Maharashta and are only interested in pursuing their vested interests,” said Thackeray. “The MPs of other states keep aside their party differences and come together to fight for the cause of their states, while our MPs just keep mum.”

The Centre submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court, opposing Maharashtra’s claim on Belgaum — a majority of the people here are Marathi speaking — stating that language cannot be the sole criteria for inclusion in a state. Thackeray said the border row would have been settled during the National Democratic Alliance rule.

“The Sena should have set a pre-condition to support this alliance only if it agreed to solve the border issue in favour of Maharashtra,” he added. He also took potshots at NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

“Pawar is blinded by cricket floodlights that he cannot see what is happening in our border areas,” said Thackeray.

Thackeray also blamed the activists of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samitee, the organisation in Belgaum, which is fighting for the merger of border areas with Maharashtra.

“These activists are fighting among themselves and are not united,” said Thackeray.