Vatal seeks emergency Legislature session to discuss Belgaum row

Bangalore, Oct 4 (UNI) Claiming that the Karnataka bandh over the Belgaum border row between the State and Maharashtra was total and peaceful, Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj, MLA, today demanded the immediate convening of an emergency session of the Legislature to discuss the issue.

''The Special Session held recently in Belgaum was incomplete since there was not much discussion on the border issue. Hence, an emergency session is needed to reiterate our demand for implementation of the Mahajan Commission report without further delay,'' he told reporters here.

Urging the Union Government to immediately implement the Mahajan Commission report in toto to put an end to the row, Mr Nagaraj said ''the bandh was totally peaceful and showed total unity. The Centre should take it as a strong signal and pronounce its decision in favour of Karnataka on the dispute.'' For Karnataka, the Mahajan Commission report was final and binding on both the States. Delay tactics in implementing the report would only lead to further confrontation, he warned.

Welcoming Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's decision to lead a delegation to the Prime Minister on the issue, he said pro-Kannada activists would meet on October six to chalk out the future course of action to bring pressure on the Centre to immediately implement the Mahajan Commission report.

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