Trying to include disputed regions of Karnataka in Maharashtra: Ministers

Co-ordinators to oversee the Maharashtra government's efforts to expedite the case related to the boundary dispute with Karnataka have written a letter to the people who are living on the border of the two states. This year, on November 1, all cabinet and state ministers of Maharashtra will work with black ribbons and will observe the Black day.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra ministers, Eknath Shinde and Chagan Bhujbal have written a letter for the people who are living on the border of the two states and said that their government is trying their best to include the border area (Belgaum) in Maharashtra.

"We are trying our best to include the border area (Belgaum) in Maharashtra. When this will happen, it will be a historic day. We are with you till that day. This is a fight we are all fighting for more than six decades. And we will soon include Belgaum, Karvar, Nipani, Bidar, Bhalki in Maharashtra," the letter read.

"This region has seen Sarabandi Aandolan, Kannada Sakti Virodhi Andolan. We have seen how our Marathi people stood against the beating of people of Yellur. We have seen the sacrifice of people for Maharashtra, and the government is trying its best to give justice to them," the letter further read.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra claims certain areas including Belgaum, Karwar and Nippani which are part of Karnataka, contending that the majority of the population in these areas is Marathi- speaking.

For this, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray appointed ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Eknath Shinde as co-ordinators to oversee his government's efforts to expedite the case related to the boundary dispute with Karnataka.

Reportedly, November 1 is observed as black day by Marathi people living in the Border area. This year, on this Black day, all cabinet and state ministers of Maharashtra will work with black ribbons.