Home Minister Shivraj Patil's resignation sought

Belgaum, Sept 1: Belgaum District Kannada Organisations Action Committee here today demanded the immediate resignation of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil for his alleged partisan attitude towards Karnataka in its border row with Maharashtra.

Addressing a press conference here, Committee President Ashok Chandaragi said that if he did not put in his papers, the State Government should demand his ouster from the Union Ministry.

Mr Chandaragi alleged that Mr Patil had informed Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh that the affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court by the Union Home Ministry would be withdrawn. There was every possibility of the affidavit being withdrawn by today.

Recalling that Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray had threatened to throw all Kannadigas out of Mumbai and Maharashtra, he held Mr Patil responsible for all the mess.

UNI