The Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute has escalated into a political slugfest as both states hit out at each other for raking up the issue with claims and counter-claims. Karnataka’s deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi said Mumbai should be made part of his state, and urged the Centre to at least declare it a Union Territory. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had strongly criticized Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi over his remarks that Mumbai should be made part of his state.
The Shiv Sena, in its party mouthpiece Saamana clammed Savadi over his remarks on Mumbai and also raised some questions on the border dispute.
"The decades-old border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka has been pending before the Supreme Court for several years. People like Arnab and Kangana get instant justice in the Supreme Court. But outcry of millions of Marathi brothers residing at the border, the pain of the blood they shed is not visible to the Supreme Court? ", read the editorial.
"If there is a dispute between the two states in the court, the Centre needs to play a guardian and impartial role. While the case is pending in the court, the Karnataka government has decided to eradicate the traces of Marathi language and culture from the border areas including Belgaum. This is political and cultural terrorism. It has to end ", stated in the article.