Chavan seeks UT status on disputed K'taka villages
Mumbai, Jul 13: In the wake of the Maharashtra-Karnataka border row taking a violent turn, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan demanded for Union Territory status on the disputed 865 Marathi-speaking villages of Karnataka until the Supreme Court takes its decision.
"The 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka should be declared as an Union Territory until the issue is settled in the Supreme Court," Chavan said.
"There is no option other than making the villages an Union Territory and we would request the prime minister to cooperate with us on the issue," the Chief Minister told the Legislative Council during a discussion on the issue on Tuesday, Jul 13.
Chavan is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi on Wednesday, Jul 14, when the Chief Minister, accompanied by an all-party delegation, will be putting forth this demand.
Seeking Opposition BJP's intervention into the issue, Chavan said, "There is no question of backing from the Supreme Court, but your (BJP) Government is ruling there (Karnataka) and I am ready if the issue can be sorted out with consensus."
OneIndia News