Govt should ascertain views of people in border dispute:RPI

Kolhapur, Nov 1 (UNI) The Union Government should conduct a survey of 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, Ramdas Athwale, MP and president of the Republican Party of India(RPI) Athawale group today said.

Until then, the area could be put under the control of the Union Government, Mr Athwale suggested.

Addressing a press conference here, he alleged that the Congress government that had ruled the nation for so many years was responsible 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 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 pertaining to the border dispute.

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