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Tag: Basavaraj Bommai

  • Karnataka: Police detain former CM Bommai for protesting outside assembly against suspension of MLAs

    By Online Desk

    CHENNAI: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai was detained by the police for protesting against the suspension of ten BJP MLAs from the assembly on Wednesday.

    Bommai was detained along with other leaders for protesting against the suspension of 10 party legislators outside the assembly.

    Speaker UT Khader suspended ten Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators from the rest of the assembly session for “indecent and disrespectful conduct” in the House.

    The ten members were suspended as they tore copies of bills and agenda and threw them at the Speaker’s Chair.

    The suspended MLAs were protesting against the government for deputing  30 IAS officers for welcoming the leaders of opposition parties who had arrived in Bengaluru for the meeting of opposition parties. 

    Sunil Kumar, R Ashok, CN Ashwath Narayan, Yashpal Anand Suvarna, D Vedavyas Kamath, Arvind Bellad, Araga Jnanendra, Umanatha Kotian, Dheeraj Muniraju and Bharath Shetty Y, have been suspended for this session. 

    #WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: BJP MLAs create ruckus in the Karnataka Assembly; shouting against State Government’s decision to depute IAS officers for an opposition party meeting held in Bengaluru(Video source: Karnataka Assembly) pic.twitter.com/ABRSTkf6OL
    — ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2023
    Rudrappa Lamani, who was occupying the Speaker’s Chair said, “I am naming them (the 10 MLAs) because of their indecent and disrespectful conduct,” following which Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the House responds to his “anguish”.

    “I am presenting this proposal…I request you that on this day under section 348 of the Karnataka Assembly Rules of Procedure, these members should be suspended from the Karnataka Assembly till the rest of the session for their indecent and disrespectful conduct, and should be barred from entering the House,” Patil said.

    Before adjourning the House for lunch, the Deputy Speaker also accused the BJP legislators of targettig him as he is from the Dalit community. 

    Dr G Parameshwara, the Home Minister of Karnataka, condemned the incident, saying, “We have laid out some guidelines, some rules in the house. House rules are there. Nobody prevents them to go and protest…But there is some basic discipline that they have to follow, attacking the chair is something we don’t see in the Karnataka legislature…And this has happened. It is unfortunate and we also appeal to the speaker to take some action.”

    After the suspension of the BJP MLAs, there was a ruckus outside the Assembly, and Karnataka BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal fell unconscious. He has been taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, the opposition BJP and JD(S) gave a no-confidence notice against the Speaker.

    #WATCH | Karnataka BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal falls unconscious following the ruckus outside the Karnataka Assembly. He has been taken to the hospital.10 BJP MLAs have been suspended for this session for throwing paper at the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and chair… pic.twitter.com/7sV4iv9VQo
    — ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2023
    Former chief minister Bommai, while protesting against the suspension, said, “This is the black day for Democracy. There was a murder of democracy today. They (10 BJP MLAs) have been suspended for their small agitation. We will fight for the right of the suspended MLAs.” He was subsequently detained by the police.

    CHENNAI: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai was detained by the police for protesting against the suspension of ten BJP MLAs from the assembly on Wednesday.

    Bommai was detained along with other leaders for protesting against the suspension of 10 party legislators outside the assembly.

    Speaker UT Khader suspended ten Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators from the rest of the assembly session for “indecent and disrespectful conduct” in the House.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The ten members were suspended as they tore copies of bills and agenda and threw them at the Speaker’s Chair.

    The suspended MLAs were protesting against the government for deputing  30 IAS officers for welcoming the leaders of opposition parties who had arrived in Bengaluru for the meeting of opposition parties. 

    Sunil Kumar, R Ashok, CN Ashwath Narayan, Yashpal Anand Suvarna, D Vedavyas Kamath, Arvind Bellad, Araga Jnanendra, Umanatha Kotian, Dheeraj Muniraju and Bharath Shetty Y, have been suspended for this session. 

    #WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: BJP MLAs create ruckus in the Karnataka Assembly; shouting against State Government’s decision to depute IAS officers for an opposition party meeting held in Bengaluru
    (Video source: Karnataka Assembly) pic.twitter.com/ABRSTkf6OL
    — ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2023
    Rudrappa Lamani, who was occupying the Speaker’s Chair said, “I am naming them (the 10 MLAs) because of their indecent and disrespectful conduct,” following which Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the House responds to his “anguish”.

    “I am presenting this proposal…I request you that on this day under section 348 of the Karnataka Assembly Rules of Procedure, these members should be suspended from the Karnataka Assembly till the rest of the session for their indecent and disrespectful conduct, and should be barred from entering the House,” Patil said.

    Before adjourning the House for lunch, the Deputy Speaker also accused the BJP legislators of targettig him as he is from the Dalit community. 

    Dr G Parameshwara, the Home Minister of Karnataka, condemned the incident, saying, “We have laid out some guidelines, some rules in the house. House rules are there. Nobody prevents them to go and protest…But there is some basic discipline that they have to follow, attacking the chair is something we don’t see in the Karnataka legislature…And this has happened. It is unfortunate and we also appeal to the speaker to take some action.”

    After the suspension of the BJP MLAs, there was a ruckus outside the Assembly, and Karnataka BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal fell unconscious. He has been taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, the opposition BJP and JD(S) gave a no-confidence notice against the Speaker.

    #WATCH | Karnataka BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal falls unconscious following the ruckus outside the Karnataka Assembly. He has been taken to the hospital.
    10 BJP MLAs have been suspended for this session for throwing paper at the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and chair… pic.twitter.com/7sV4iv9VQo
    — ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2023
    Former chief minister Bommai, while protesting against the suspension, said, “This is the black day for Democracy. There was a murder of democracy today. They (10 BJP MLAs) have been suspended for their small agitation. We will fight for the right of the suspended MLAs.” He was subsequently detained by the police.

  • NCP asks Twitter CEO Elon Musk to help resolve Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: In what could be seen as an amusing turn of events, NCP state president Jayant Patil on Monday requested Twitter CEO Elon Musk to help resolve the ongoing border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka by clarifying whether Karnataka Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai had tweeted controversial tweets about the border issue from his Twitter account or not.

    Elon Musk on Monday launched a poll on the micro-blogging website asking whether he should stay or down as Twitter’s CEO and added that he would abide by the poll’s results.

    Patil tagged Musk’s tweet and asked the latter to resolve the issue over if Bommai had allegedly tweeted anything that could escalate further tensions at the border.  “But before you step down as Twitter head, you must give the result of who really tweeted from Karnataka CM Basvaraj Bommai’s social media account,” Patil asked Elon Musk.

    The opposition alleged that Bommai had posted a series of tweets over the Maharashtra and Karnataka border leading to a tumultuous situation at the border. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had also complained to Union Home Minister Amit Shah against Karnataka CM, but Shah denied the accusations.

    Bommai in a recent meeting with Amit Shah and Eknath Shinde denied that he had not tweeted anything that can flare up the border dispute. Bommai claimed someone had hacked his social media account and published the tweets in question. Following the meeting, the Home Minister said the authenticity of the tweets will be verified and action will be taken against those involved.

    Meanwhile, the Maharashtra state assembly witnessed an uproar over the border dispute. Opposition parties alleged that Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had failed to protect the interest of the Maharashtra people.

    Maharashtra’s Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said that elected representatives like MLAs and MPs have been barred from entering Karnataka. Pawar said the Karnataka CM issued an order to arrest the Maharashtra leaders who entered Karnataka, despite the latter agreeing to cooperate over the border tussle following a recent meeting with Amit Shah.

    MUMBAI: In what could be seen as an amusing turn of events, NCP state president Jayant Patil on Monday requested Twitter CEO Elon Musk to help resolve the ongoing border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka by clarifying whether Karnataka Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai had tweeted controversial tweets about the border issue from his Twitter account or not.

    Elon Musk on Monday launched a poll on the micro-blogging website asking whether he should stay or down as Twitter’s CEO and added that he would abide by the poll’s results.

    Patil tagged Musk’s tweet and asked the latter to resolve the issue over if Bommai had allegedly tweeted anything that could escalate further tensions at the border.  “But before you step down as Twitter head, you must give the result of who really tweeted from Karnataka CM Basvaraj Bommai’s social media account,” Patil asked Elon Musk.

    The opposition alleged that Bommai had posted a series of tweets over the Maharashtra and Karnataka border leading to a tumultuous situation at the border. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had also complained to Union Home Minister Amit Shah against Karnataka CM, but Shah denied the accusations.

    Bommai in a recent meeting with Amit Shah and Eknath Shinde denied that he had not tweeted anything that can flare up the border dispute. Bommai claimed someone had hacked his social media account and published the tweets in question. Following the meeting, the Home Minister said the authenticity of the tweets will be verified and action will be taken against those involved.

    Meanwhile, the Maharashtra state assembly witnessed an uproar over the border dispute. Opposition parties alleged that Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had failed to protect the interest of the Maharashtra people.

    Maharashtra’s Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said that elected representatives like MLAs and MPs have been barred from entering Karnataka. Pawar said the Karnataka CM issued an order to arrest the Maharashtra leaders who entered Karnataka, despite the latter agreeing to cooperate over the border tussle following a recent meeting with Amit Shah.

  • Border row: Meeting in Delhi achieved nothing, favoured Karnataka, claims Uddhav

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said that nothing came out of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s meeting with the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka over the border dispute.

    Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with his Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Congress and NCP, he also said it was difficult to believe that some tweets from the verified handle of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on the issue were not actually posted by him.

    “What was achieved by yesterday’s meeting of Union home minister Amit Shah with chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka? It was rubbing of salt into our wounds. As always, the deliberations favoured Karnataka,” Thackeray said.

    The former chief minister demanded to know why Karnataka holds legislature sessions in Belagavi (the north Karnataka city which is the main bone of contention between the two states) and accorded it the status of second capital when the border dispute was before the Supreme Court.

    ”Belagavi, Karwar, Nipani and other surrounding areas (of northern Karnataka) want to join Maharashtra. Why are there no answers to this demand,” he asked.

    He also sought to know why the Karnataka chief minister waited till Wednesday’s meeting in Delhi to clarify that some ‘fake’ Twitter handles were posting tweets in his name that fuelled tensions.

    “What action has been taken till now? Is it believable?” he asked.

    The MVA meeting was attended by NCP leader Ajit Pawar and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan.

    On a protest march organised by the MVA on Saturday in Mumbai, Thackeray said “all those who love Maharashtra should join it.”

    READ HERE | Karnataka, Maharashtra arm-wrestle over border areas

    Issues such as the border dispute with Karnataka, `insult’ of Maharashtrian icons and industrial projects going to other states would be highlighted during the march which will start from J J Flyover and end at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai, Pawar and Thackeray said.

    Union minister Shah met the chief ministers of the two states on Wednesday after violence flared up in the border region where Maharashtra has staked claim on 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka besides Belagavi.

    Of late, Karnataka too has staked claims to south Solapur and Akkalkote regions of Maharashtra, that have a sizeable Kannada speaking population.

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said that nothing came out of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s meeting with the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka over the border dispute.

    Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with his Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Congress and NCP, he also said it was difficult to believe that some tweets from the verified handle of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on the issue were not actually posted by him.

    “What was achieved by yesterday’s meeting of Union home minister Amit Shah with chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka? It was rubbing of salt into our wounds. As always, the deliberations favoured Karnataka,” Thackeray said.

    The former chief minister demanded to know why Karnataka holds legislature sessions in Belagavi (the north Karnataka city which is the main bone of contention between the two states) and accorded it the status of second capital when the border dispute was before the Supreme Court.

    ”Belagavi, Karwar, Nipani and other surrounding areas (of northern Karnataka) want to join Maharashtra. Why are there no answers to this demand,” he asked.

    He also sought to know why the Karnataka chief minister waited till Wednesday’s meeting in Delhi to clarify that some ‘fake’ Twitter handles were posting tweets in his name that fuelled tensions.

    “What action has been taken till now? Is it believable?” he asked.

    The MVA meeting was attended by NCP leader Ajit Pawar and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan.

    On a protest march organised by the MVA on Saturday in Mumbai, Thackeray said “all those who love Maharashtra should join it.”

    READ HERE | Karnataka, Maharashtra arm-wrestle over border areas

    Issues such as the border dispute with Karnataka, `insult’ of Maharashtrian icons and industrial projects going to other states would be highlighted during the march which will start from J J Flyover and end at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai, Pawar and Thackeray said.

    Union minister Shah met the chief ministers of the two states on Wednesday after violence flared up in the border region where Maharashtra has staked claim on 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka besides Belagavi.

    Of late, Karnataka too has staked claims to south Solapur and Akkalkote regions of Maharashtra, that have a sizeable Kannada speaking population.

  • Border row: Karnataka CM’s statement disrespectful to Shah, made with an eye on polls, says MVA

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday said Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s statement that the meeting between Maharashtra parliamentarians and Union Home Minister Amit Shah would make no difference to the border dispute between the two states shows such comments are pre-planned with an eye on Assembly polls there.

    Senior Shiv Sena ((UBT) leader and Mumbai South Lok Sabha MP Arvind Sawant, who was part of the delegation that met Shah, said the latter had taken serious note of the issue and had assured he would call a meeting of the CMs of both states.

    However, Bommai’s statement shows he doesn’t respect the Central government, Sawant said, adding it seems such comments are pre-planned with an eye on polls in the southern state, most likely to be held in the earlier part of 2023, and has the blessings of the Centre.

    “When the matter is pending in the Supreme Court, Karnataka went ahead and changed the name of Belgaum to Belagavi. It then constructed a legislature building there and holds a session of the Assembly annually. All this is illegal,” Sawant claimed.

    Slamming Bommai, Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Clyde Crasto said, “Isn’t the statement of the Karnataka CM disrespectful to the Union home minister and our country? The BJP CM of a state openly passes a counter statement related to the Home Minister of India, who is also from the BJP. Are we missing something here?”

    “Bommai used to be backed by Amit Shah. Now he is saying meeting Amit Shah is useless on the border issue! who is actually in charge here?! And will the Maharashtra government now sell our villages to their BJP neighbours after selling our projects to Gujarat,” Aam Aadmi Party leader Preeti Sharma Menon tweeted.

    In a tweet on Friday, Bommai had said his state’s stand was “legitimate” and its case in the apex court was “strong.”

    “Maharashtra delegation meeting the Union Home Minister will not make any difference. Maharashtra has tried this in the past too. The case is in the Supreme Court. Our legitimate case in the Supreme Court is strong. Our government will not make any compromise on the border issue,” Bommai tweeted late on Friday night.

    “I have asked Karnataka MPs to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday regarding the Karnataka Maharashtra border issue. I will also be meeting the Union Home Minister soon to inform him about the state’s legitimate stand,” he added.ALSO READ | Centre to call K’taka & Maha CMs meeting next week

    The delegation from Maharashtra had met Shah on Friday and NCP leader Amol Kolhe, who was part of the group, said the former would meet both CMs on December 14.

    The border row had intensified earlier this week with vehicles from either side being targeted, leaders from both states weighing in, and pro-Kannada and Marathi activists being detained by police amid a tense atmosphere in the border district of Belagavi.

    Following this, the Karnataka and Maharashtra CMs spoke to each other over the phone and agreed there should be peace and law and order should be maintained on both sides.

    The border issue dates back to 1957 after the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines.

    Maharashtra laid claim to Belagavi, which was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, as it has a sizeable Marathi-speaking population.

    It also laid claim to 814 Marathi-speaking villages which are currently part of Karnataka.

    Karnataka maintains the demarcation done on linguistic lines as per the States Reorganisation Act and the 1967 Mahajan Commission Report as final.

    The dispute is pending in the Supreme court.

    MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday said Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s statement that the meeting between Maharashtra parliamentarians and Union Home Minister Amit Shah would make no difference to the border dispute between the two states shows such comments are pre-planned with an eye on Assembly polls there.

    Senior Shiv Sena ((UBT) leader and Mumbai South Lok Sabha MP Arvind Sawant, who was part of the delegation that met Shah, said the latter had taken serious note of the issue and had assured he would call a meeting of the CMs of both states.

    However, Bommai’s statement shows he doesn’t respect the Central government, Sawant said, adding it seems such comments are pre-planned with an eye on polls in the southern state, most likely to be held in the earlier part of 2023, and has the blessings of the Centre.

    “When the matter is pending in the Supreme Court, Karnataka went ahead and changed the name of Belgaum to Belagavi. It then constructed a legislature building there and holds a session of the Assembly annually. All this is illegal,” Sawant claimed.

    Slamming Bommai, Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Clyde Crasto said, “Isn’t the statement of the Karnataka CM disrespectful to the Union home minister and our country? The BJP CM of a state openly passes a counter statement related to the Home Minister of India, who is also from the BJP. Are we missing something here?”

    “Bommai used to be backed by Amit Shah. Now he is saying meeting Amit Shah is useless on the border issue! who is actually in charge here?! And will the Maharashtra government now sell our villages to their BJP neighbours after selling our projects to Gujarat,” Aam Aadmi Party leader Preeti Sharma Menon tweeted.

    In a tweet on Friday, Bommai had said his state’s stand was “legitimate” and its case in the apex court was “strong.”

    “Maharashtra delegation meeting the Union Home Minister will not make any difference. Maharashtra has tried this in the past too. The case is in the Supreme Court. Our legitimate case in the Supreme Court is strong. Our government will not make any compromise on the border issue,” Bommai tweeted late on Friday night.

    “I have asked Karnataka MPs to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday regarding the Karnataka Maharashtra border issue. I will also be meeting the Union Home Minister soon to inform him about the state’s legitimate stand,” he added.ALSO READ | Centre to call K’taka & Maha CMs meeting next week

    The delegation from Maharashtra had met Shah on Friday and NCP leader Amol Kolhe, who was part of the group, said the former would meet both CMs on December 14.

    The border row had intensified earlier this week with vehicles from either side being targeted, leaders from both states weighing in, and pro-Kannada and Marathi activists being detained by police amid a tense atmosphere in the border district of Belagavi.

    Following this, the Karnataka and Maharashtra CMs spoke to each other over the phone and agreed there should be peace and law and order should be maintained on both sides.

    The border issue dates back to 1957 after the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines.

    Maharashtra laid claim to Belagavi, which was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, as it has a sizeable Marathi-speaking population.

    It also laid claim to 814 Marathi-speaking villages which are currently part of Karnataka.

    Karnataka maintains the demarcation done on linguistic lines as per the States Reorganisation Act and the 1967 Mahajan Commission Report as final.

    The dispute is pending in the Supreme court.

  • Political heat over Karnataka-Maharashtra boundary dispute escalates

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: The political heat over the inter-state border row has escalated with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hitting back at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis terming his statement on the issue “provocative”.

    “No village in Maharashtra will go to Karnataka! The state government will fight strongly in the Supreme Court to get Marathi speaking villages in Karnataka including Belgaum-Karwar-Nipani!,” said Fadnavis.

    In a retort, Bommai, terming it a provocative statement, said: “His (Fadnavis’) dream will never come true. Our government is committed to protecting our state’s land, water and borders.”

    He further said that there was no question of giving up any space in the border districts of Karnataka.

    In fact, he said: “Our demand is that the Kannada speaking areas of Maharashtra like Solapur and Akkalkot should join Karnataka.”

    The dispute over Belagavi dates back to the 1960s after the reorganisation of States on linguistic lines.

    Earlier this week, the Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra appointed two ministers to coordinate with the legal team regarding the court case on the dispute set to come up in the Supreme Court.

    Bommai said soon after that the State has deployed a battery of top lawyers, including Mukul Rohatgi and Shyam Diwan, to fight its case.

    Bommai said since 2004, the Maharashtra government has filed a case in the Apex court over the border issue.

    “So far they have not succeeded and they will not succeed in future as well. We are geared up to strengthen our legal battle.”

    The Karnataka CM had claimed that the Panchayats in Jath Taluka in Sangli district of Maharashtra had passed a resolution in the past to merge with Karnataka when there was a severe drought situation and acute drinking water crisis, and his government has evolved schemes to help them by providing water.

    Responding to this, Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur on Wednesday: “These villages (in Jat Taluk) had introduced a resolution on the issue of water scarcity in 2012.

    Presently, none of the villages have introduced any resolution.

    ” Karnataka has repeatedly maintained that the Mahajan Commission report on the border issue is final, and “there is no question of letting go even an inch of Karnataka’s border”.

    Bommai reiterated this week that there is no example to show that what had been done under the States Reorganisation Act was reviewed.

    “The border dispute is a political tool used by all parties in Maharashtra. But they will never succeed,” he had said.

    Shinde said earlier this week: “Late Balasaheb Thackeray was always a staunch supporter of the state’s demand to make Belgaum (Belagavi) a part of Maharashtra. We have concentrated our focus on solving the issue. If required, the number of lawyers would be increased”.

    BENGALURU: The political heat over the inter-state border row has escalated with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hitting back at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis terming his statement on the issue “provocative”.

    “No village in Maharashtra will go to Karnataka! The state government will fight strongly in the Supreme Court to get Marathi speaking villages in Karnataka including Belgaum-Karwar-Nipani!,” said Fadnavis.

    In a retort, Bommai, terming it a provocative statement, said: “His (Fadnavis’) dream will never come true. Our government is committed to protecting our state’s land, water and borders.”

    He further said that there was no question of giving up any space in the border districts of Karnataka.

    In fact, he said: “Our demand is that the Kannada speaking areas of Maharashtra like Solapur and Akkalkot should join Karnataka.”

    The dispute over Belagavi dates back to the 1960s after the reorganisation of States on linguistic lines.

    Earlier this week, the Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra appointed two ministers to coordinate with the legal team regarding the court case on the dispute set to come up in the Supreme Court.

    Bommai said soon after that the State has deployed a battery of top lawyers, including Mukul Rohatgi and Shyam Diwan, to fight its case.

    Bommai said since 2004, the Maharashtra government has filed a case in the Apex court over the border issue.

    “So far they have not succeeded and they will not succeed in future as well. We are geared up to strengthen our legal battle.”

    The Karnataka CM had claimed that the Panchayats in Jath Taluka in Sangli district of Maharashtra had passed a resolution in the past to merge with Karnataka when there was a severe drought situation and acute drinking water crisis, and his government has evolved schemes to help them by providing water.

    Responding to this, Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur on Wednesday: “These villages (in Jat Taluk) had introduced a resolution on the issue of water scarcity in 2012.

    Presently, none of the villages have introduced any resolution.

    ” Karnataka has repeatedly maintained that the Mahajan Commission report on the border issue is final, and “there is no question of letting go even an inch of Karnataka’s border”.

    Bommai reiterated this week that there is no example to show that what had been done under the States Reorganisation Act was reviewed.

    “The border dispute is a political tool used by all parties in Maharashtra. But they will never succeed,” he had said.

    Shinde said earlier this week: “Late Balasaheb Thackeray was always a staunch supporter of the state’s demand to make Belgaum (Belagavi) a part of Maharashtra. We have concentrated our focus on solving the issue. If required, the number of lawyers would be increased”.

  • Political heat over Karnataka-Maharashtra boundary dispute escalates

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: The political heat over the inter-state border row has escalated with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hitting back at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis terming his statement on the issue “provocative”.

    “No village in Maharashtra will go to Karnataka! The state government will fight strongly in the Supreme Court to get Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka including Belgaum-Karwar-Nipani!,” said Fadnavis.

    In a retort, Bommai, terming it a provocative statement, said: “His (Fadnavis’) dream will never come true. Our government is committed to protecting our state’s land, water and borders.”

    He further said that there was no question of giving up any space in the border districts of Karnataka.

    In fact, he said: “Our demand is that the Kannada speaking areas of Maharashtra like Solapur and Akkalkot should join Karnataka.”

    The dispute over Belagavi dates back to the 1960s after the reorganisation of States on linguistic lines.

    Earlier this week, the Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra appointed two ministers to coordinate with the legal team regarding the court case on the dispute set to come up in the Supreme Court.

    Bommai said soon after that the State has deployed a battery of top lawyers, including Mukul Rohatgi and Shyam Diwan, to fight its case.

    Bommai said since 2004, the Maharashtra government has filed a case in the Apex court over the border issue.

    “So far they have not succeeded and they will not succeed in future as well. We are geared up to strengthen our legal battle.”

    The Karnataka CM had claimed that the Panchayats in Jath Taluka in Sangli district of Maharashtra had passed a resolution in the past to merge with Karnataka when there was a severe drought situation and acute drinking water crisis, and his government has evolved schemes to help them by providing water.

    Responding to this, Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur on Wednesday: “These villages (in Jat Taluk) had introduced a resolution on the issue of water scarcity in 2012. Presently, none of the villages have introduced any resolution.”

    Karnataka has repeatedly maintained that the Mahajan Commission report on the border issue is final, and “there is no question of letting go even an inch of Karnataka’s border”.

    Bommai reiterated this week that there is no example to show that what had been done under the States Reorganisation Act was reviewed.

    “The border dispute is a political tool used by all parties in Maharashtra. But they will never succeed,” he had said.

    Shinde said earlier this week: “Late Balasaheb Thackeray was always a staunch supporter of the state’s demand to make Belgaum (Belagavi) a part of Maharashtra. We have concentrated our focus on solving the issue. If required, the number of lawyers would be increased”.

    BENGALURU: The political heat over the inter-state border row has escalated with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hitting back at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis terming his statement on the issue “provocative”.

    “No village in Maharashtra will go to Karnataka! The state government will fight strongly in the Supreme Court to get Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka including Belgaum-Karwar-Nipani!,” said Fadnavis.

    In a retort, Bommai, terming it a provocative statement, said: “His (Fadnavis’) dream will never come true. Our government is committed to protecting our state’s land, water and borders.”

    He further said that there was no question of giving up any space in the border districts of Karnataka.

    In fact, he said: “Our demand is that the Kannada speaking areas of Maharashtra like Solapur and Akkalkot should join Karnataka.”

    The dispute over Belagavi dates back to the 1960s after the reorganisation of States on linguistic lines.

    Earlier this week, the Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra appointed two ministers to coordinate with the legal team regarding the court case on the dispute set to come up in the Supreme Court.

    Bommai said soon after that the State has deployed a battery of top lawyers, including Mukul Rohatgi and Shyam Diwan, to fight its case.

    Bommai said since 2004, the Maharashtra government has filed a case in the Apex court over the border issue.

    “So far they have not succeeded and they will not succeed in future as well. We are geared up to strengthen our legal battle.”

    The Karnataka CM had claimed that the Panchayats in Jath Taluka in Sangli district of Maharashtra had passed a resolution in the past to merge with Karnataka when there was a severe drought situation and acute drinking water crisis, and his government has evolved schemes to help them by providing water.

    Responding to this, Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur on Wednesday: “These villages (in Jat Taluk) had introduced a resolution on the issue of water scarcity in 2012. Presently, none of the villages have introduced any resolution.”

    Karnataka has repeatedly maintained that the Mahajan Commission report on the border issue is final, and “there is no question of letting go even an inch of Karnataka’s border”.

    Bommai reiterated this week that there is no example to show that what had been done under the States Reorganisation Act was reviewed.

    “The border dispute is a political tool used by all parties in Maharashtra. But they will never succeed,” he had said.

    Shinde said earlier this week: “Late Balasaheb Thackeray was always a staunch supporter of the state’s demand to make Belgaum (Belagavi) a part of Maharashtra. We have concentrated our focus on solving the issue. If required, the number of lawyers would be increased”.

  • Bommai meets Union Water Resources Minister, discusses Mekedatu 

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s surprise trip to New Delhi on Friday sparked the buzz that the ruling BJP was close to firming up the outline of the much-anticipated cabinet expansion or reshuffle. Bommai was last in Delhi on May 20. He called on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and later tweeted, “Had a courtesy meeting with the Finance Minister @nsitharaman Ji in Delhi. Various issues of mutual interest were discussed.”

    In another important meeting, Bommai met Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, apart from participating in the GST Council meeting. The meeting was in connection with the Mekedatu project and Tamil Nadu’s objection to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).

    Responding to a question by journalists, Bommai said Tamil Nadu has filed a miscellaneous application before the Supreme Court, and once notice is served to the state, the government will respond to it. “It (Mekedatu) is already on the (CWMA meeting) agenda, I will put pressure that it should be taken up and a final decision taken, regarding the project,” he added.

    The Tamil Nadu government last week moved the Supreme Court with an aim to seek direction to the CWMA, restraining it from holding any discussion on the project at its meeting. Bommai termed Tamil Nadu’s move a “political stunt”, and said it was against the “spirit of federalism”.

    Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin recently wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, requesting him to instruct the Jal Shakti ministry to advise the CWMA’s chairman to desist from taking up any discussion on the Mekedatu project, till the issues are heard and decided by the Supreme Court.The Tamil Nadu government has already moved the Supreme Court, seeking direction to the CWMA not to hold any discussion on the issue at its meeting.

    Mekedatu is a drinking water and power project proposed by Karnataka, for which a balancing reservoir has to be constructed near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district. But Tamil Nadu has been opposing the project, apprehensive that the project will affect the state. The project, estimated to cost around Rs 9,000 crore, will ensure drinking water to Bengaluru and areas around, besides generation of 400MW power.

    PROJECT WILL BE DISCUSSED AT CWMA MEET: CHAIRMANTHANJAVUR: Amid protest against the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) taking up the Mekedatu issue for discussion, S K Haldar, chairman of the Authority, reiterated that the issue is on the agenda and would be taken up for discussion in the forthcoming meeting. He was talking to reporters at Kallanai in Thanjavur on Friday, where he inspected the regulators.  When asked whether the CWMA has powers to discuss the Mekedatu issue, Haldar said, “It has all powers and can discuss anything and everything related to the basin.” 

  • Bommai’s Delhi visit sparks speculation about expansion or rejig of K’taka cabinet

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s New Delhi visit, amid speculations about the cabinet expansion or reshuffle, has raised hopes among ministerial aspirants.

    He will be travelling to Delhi on Tuesday morning and his return schedule to Bengaluru on Wednesday has been kept ‘open’.

    Though there is no mention about Bommai’s meeting with BJP’s central leadership in his official tour programme, according to some party sources, he may seek their appointment and hold discussions, as he is halting in Delhi on Tuesday night.

    As per the tour programme, released to media on Monday, he is expected to meet several Union Ministers on Tuesday and in the evening will be holding interactions with ambassadors of various countries regarding ‘Invest Karnataka 2022’ – Global Investors Meet, which is scheduled to be held in November.

    Bommai had recently said that he is ready to go to New Delhi to discuss the cabinet exercise, as soon as the BJP central leadership calls him.

    Karnataka BJP strongman B S Yediyurappa last Friday had hinted that the much-awaited expansion or reshuffle, may take place before May 10.

    The former chief minister had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon take a decision in this regard after discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had visited the city earlier this month.

    The postponement of the cabinet meeting that was scheduled to be held last week had also added to the speculations that it might have been done to accommodate expansion or reshuffle of the ministry, amid reports that the BJP high command is expected to arrive at a decision soon.

    Amid murmurs in the BJP circles that a top-to-bottom overhaul of the cabinet cannot be ruled out, ministerial aspirants are hopeful that a decision is likely soon regarding cabinet expansion or reshuffle, and there are even talks that several incumbents could make way for fresh faces.

    Bommai is under pressure from aspirants to expand or reshuffle his cabinet at the earliest, ahead of assembly polls next year.

    There are currently five positions vacant in the state cabinet, which has 29 ministers, including the chief minister, against the sanctioned strength of 34.

    Some legislators have even been advocating a Gujarat-like overhaul of the Karnataka cabinet soon, to make way for new faces, ahead of the assembly elections.

  • Won’t give even an inch of land to Maharashtra, asserts Karnataka CM Bommai

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday urged politicians of Maharashtra not to use language bogey or border issue for their political survival, as he made it clear that the state will not give even an inch of its land to the neighbouring state.

    Noting that several Kannada speaking areas were in Maharashtra, he said the thinking is on about incorporating them into Karnataka.

    He was responding to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s statement on Sunday that they would continue to support the fight of Marathi-speaking people residing in border areas of neighbouring Karnataka to include those places in Maharashtra.

    “There is a political crisis in Maharashtra, it is there now, their entire government is on the rock bottom, so they create a language bogey and raise the border issue. To survive politically they do this,” Bommai said.

    Speaking to reporters here, he said, Karnataka’s stand on the border issue is very clear, and the state is not going to yield for anything.

    “We stand firmly by our decisions, they (Maharashtra) also know it. I strongly urge the politicians of Maharashtra not to use language bogey or border issue for their political survival,” he said, adding that there is no question of giving even an inch of Karnataka’s land.

    Maharashtra claims the border district of Belagavi and nearby areas were part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, but is currently a part of Karnataka, on linguistic grounds.

    “While we are celebrating 62 years of formation of Maharashtra, we regret that the Marathi-speaking villages in Bidar, Bhalki, Belgaum, Karwar, Nippani and other places in Karnataka could not be merged with Maharashtra. The citizens of Maharashtra and its government are with their fight to be part of Maharashtra. I assure that we would keep supporting their fight till these villages become part of Maharashtra,” Pawar had said on the occasion of Maharashtra’s foundation day on Sunday.

    The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), which has been fighting in the border areas of Belagavi for the merger of 800-odd villages with Maharashtra, had also some time ago submitted a memorandum of their demands to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

    On its part as an assertion that Belagavi is an integral part of the state, Karnataka has built the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, modelled on the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat in Bengaluru, where the legislature session is held once a year.

  • Bommai sees BJP wave in state, says party will romp back to power on its own

    Express News Service

    MANGALURU: Despite a severe backlash over the suicide of civil contractor Santosh Patil who had levelled bribery allegations against minister KS Eshwarappa and despite communal incidents rocking the state, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai claimed that there is a wave in favour of the BJP in the state and exuded confidence that his party will come back to power on its own in the state in 2023.

    Addressing a party workers’ convention at Bantwal, he said the BJP government has performed in a manner that brings respect to its party workers and claimed that the government had faced all challenges effectively including the uniform (hijab) row and is ready also to face any challenges in the coming days too.

    “Except 2-3 incidents, we have maintained law and order effectively. But Opposition is twisting all issues as they do not want them to be resolved. They want to fool the people for the sake of their vote bank,” he alleged.

    ALSO READ | Karnataka contractor’s suicide: Santosh was not given work order, say friends

    Further, he came down heavily on the Congress party stating that “it is diminishing day by day and is getting disconnected from the people”.

    “I don’t know whether it’s because it is old or due to internal bickering. The way their leaders speak does not behove well for the party. People are watching. Congress leaders can’t even match BJP workers in commanding respect,” he said.

    Further, the Chief Minister said that the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) rules will be simplified in order to boost tourism in the coastal districts of the state. The Deputy Commissioners of the coastal districts have already been instructed to identify lands for industrial parks which will be developed once the CRZ rules are simplified. He also promised to resolve the issues related to Deemed Forests and others at the earliest.

    Stating that the State and Central governments have introduced a slew of programmes for the benefit of the common man, he asked party workers to meet the beneficiaries of all programmes in order to convert them into permanent voters of the BJP.