Govt should ascertain the views of the people in border dispute:RPI

Kolhapur, Nov 1 (UNI) Ramdas Athawale, MP and president of the Republican Party of India (RPI) Athawale group, today demanded that the Union Government should conduct a survey at the disputed areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka in order to ascertain the views of the people there before taking any decision on the long-pending border dispute.

Mr Athwale made the demand while addressing a press conference here. Until then the area can be put under the control of the Union Government, he suggested.

He alleged that the Congress Government that has ruled the nation for so many years was responsbile for this mess due to their adamant policies. They have done injustice to the Marathi-speaking people of the areas, he said.

The Mahajan commission report on the border issue was totally against the Marathi-speaking people and favourable to the Kannada-speaking people, he rued. While asserting that this was not not acceptable to the RPI, he added that the Union Government should strive to seek justice for the Marathi- speaking in the Supreme Court. A bench of the SC is currently hearing a case regarding the border-dispute.

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