Centre denies in SC the claim of Maharashtra on Belgaum

New Delhi, Nov 17 (UNI) The Centre in its written statement filed in the Supreme Court has denied the claim of the state of Maharashtra on Marathi speaking areas of State of Karnataka.

The state of Maharashtra in a suit filed in the apex court has staked claim over Belgaum district of Karnataka where the majority of the population is Marathi. The Centre has also contended that the claim of the Maharashtra government, that it was assured by late G B Pant, the then Home Minister, that Marathi-speaking areas will be included in Maharashtra, is not tenable in the present circumstances.

The written statement dated November 16, 2006 also contends that the Union government as well as Parliament had considered all relevant sectors during the passing of the states' Reorganisation Act. It further says that it is neither feasible nor desirable to demarcate the borders of villages, taluks and districts in a manner that the people speaking one language can or may be retained in one state only. Such a solution will face severe practical problems and severe consequences, which have been succinctly laid out by the State Reorganisation Commission (SRC) in its report.

Finally the Cente has stated that in the process of reorganisation, a certain minimum amount of linguistic overlap is to be expected along the border areas.

The suit is pending since 2004 and is likely to come up for hearing next month.

UNI AKS/SC BDP RP BD1755