'Centre not to buckle under M'htra's pressure'

Belgaum, Aug 9: Union Minister Oscar Fernandes today said the Centre would not budge by the ''pressure tactics'' of Maharashtra in demanding the merger of Marathi-speaking areas of Belgaum district of Karnataka with that state.

Talking to newspersons here, he said ''no injustice would be meted out to Karnataka following the pressure from Maharashtra.'' Asked why he did not accompany the all-party delegation from Karnataka that met the Prime Minister on the border while Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had been with the Maharashtra delegation, Mr Fernandes said informed that it was he who had got the appointment for the Karnataka delegation.

To a question, he said the Centre would show no partiality in releasing financial assistance for the flood-ravaged states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

UNI