Mahajan Commission report on Karnataka-Maharashtra border row is final, asserts H.K. Patil

HUBBALLI

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil has said that there was no reason for Kannadigas to be concerned over cases pertaining to the Karnataka-Maharashtra border row before the Supreme Court, as it was a constitutional issue and no decision yet had been taken on taking up the case for hearing.

He was chairing a meeting of Kannada organisations at in Belagavi on Saturday.

“The language row is a poll issue in Maharashtra. So there is no need to panic over it. Honouring the federal system in the country, Karnataka accepted the formation of Mahajan Commission. Our stand is that the commission’s report is the sole solution to the border row. You have to accept the report, otherwise the status quo should continue. This is our government’s firm stand,” he said.

The Minister said the bonhomie between Kannadigas and Marathi-speaking people is a model to the whole nation. Those who rake up language row should understand it and keep quiet, he said.

He said that steps would be taken to address the injustice being caused to Kannadigas in Goa and the issue would also be raised with the Union government.

On cases against Kannada activists, he said that certain procedures would have to be followed and the attention of the concerned persons would be drawn towards it.

Steps would also be taken to strengthen Kannada schools in the border areas by holding a detailed discussion with the Education Minister on the issue with a delegation from Belagavi, he said.

Representatives of various Kannada organisations aired their grievances and contentious issues and also gave suggestions. Various legislators and senior officials were present.