Border dispute: K'taka CM to visit Belgaum

Bangalore, Mar 16 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today said he would visit Belgaum after the budget session of the Legislature to get first hand information about the problems being faced by the people in the border district due to the vexed border dispute with Maharashtra.

Addressing a delegation of elected representatives and Kannada organisations here, he assured that his Government was committed to protect the interests of the people living in the border areas. He would visit Belgaum along with Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and district in charge Minister Jagdish Shettar and camp there for atleast two days to listen to the grievances of the residents.

Mr Kumaraswamy said he intended to get across the message to the Marathi community in the district that they were part of the State and should not feel as outsiders.

The Chief Minister said the Government was exploring the possibility of holding a legislature session in Belgaum as per popular demand and the Law department was working on it.

Expressing his displeasure over the use of names such as Bombay- Karnataka and Hyderabad-Karnataka for different regions, he asked the politicians in particular to stop doing it as it would not help in promoting oneness among the people of the State.

Former Belgaum Mayor Siddanagouda Patil suggested that Belgaum be made the second capital of the State to solve the border issue. The World Kannada Meet could be held in the city, besides setting up a Belgaum Border Advisory Committee, he added.

UNI SIV GD LS DB2359