About 60 deputations meet Mr Pawar

Kolhapur, Sep 23 (UNI) In a bid to secure justice to the Marathi-speaking people at the Maharashtra-Karnataka disputed border area, about 60 deputations today met Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and submitted their memorandums, at the government circuit house here.

The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) deputation, led by 'Tarun Bharat' daily editor Kiran Thakur, and other MES leaders urged Mr Pawar to take initiative in resolving the long-standing grievances of the Marathi-speaking people residing in the border areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

They pointed out in their memorandum that the Marathi speaking people of the area have been fighting for justice for the last 45 years through democratic and peaceful means demanding that areas dominated by them should be merged with Maharashtra. However, the Karnataka Government has ignored their demands, they lamented.

Various other deputations representing traders also met Mr Pawar and demanded withdrawal of essential commodites like gur and others from the purview of VAT. They also demanded that octroi be abolished.

Besides, other deputations representing teaching and non-teaching staff, railway passengers and others also met Mr Pawar and submitted their memorandums.

UNI BBK WD AD SSC1338