The Hindu : National : "Centre must make stand clear on Belgaum"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006

National

National

"Centre must make stand clear on Belgaum"

Special Correspondent

Maharashtra legislature adjourns seeking the merger of Belgaum and other areas with the State

MUMBAI : Both Houses of the Maharashtra legislature adjourned on Monday without transacting any business to support the agitation for the merger of disputed Belgaum and other areas, now in Karnataka, with the State.

The Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union Government to make its stand clear on the border dispute before August when the Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter in which the Centre is a party, besides the two States.

A member of the ruling coalition, Jan Surajya Party, Narasingh Patil, tabled an adjournment motion in the lower House under the Rule 57, demanding suspension of the question hour to discuss it. The provocation was a `dharna' in Mumbai by hundreds of Marathi-speaking protesters from the disputed area.

The motion got all round support. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh moved a resolution urging the Union Government to take the stand and asked all members to go to the dharna site under the leadership of Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar to express their support. He assured the House that he would lead an all-party delegation to the Prime Minister to argue Maharashtra's case.

In the Legislative Council, Madhukar Sarpotdar of the Shiv Sena moved for adjournment under Rule 289, which also found support on both sides.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail