The Hindu : National : Chavan to write to Manmohan on border issue

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National

Chavan to write to Manmohan on border issue

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: In a bid to calm rising tempers over the border issue, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has decided to take a series of steps to make sure the State's position is reinforced in the Supreme Court on July 12, the next date of the hearing.

At an urgent meeting on Thursday attended by senior Cabinet Ministers Ajit Pawar, Arif Naseem Khan, Suresh Shetty, Home Minister R.R. Patil and bureaucrats, it was decided that a letter will be written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram apprising them of the people's sentiments over the border issue after the Centre's affidavit was filed. The letter will reflect the State's disappointment and displeasure over the affidavit. In addition, the government will seek the help of senior advocates like Harish Salve, who will lead a team that can present Maharashtra's case before the Supreme Court.

To lead delegation

Mr. Chavan also plans to lead an all-party delegation to meet Dr. Singh and said he would seek an appointment on July 14, the day the Chief Ministers of the five States have been summoned for a meeting in the capital on the Naxalite issue, or even later.

The Maharashtra government reiterated that there was no change from its earlier stand that the border areas in dispute must come to the State.

Corrections and Clarifications

The third paragraph of a report “Chavan to write to Manmohan on border issue” (July 9, 2010) said: “Mr. Chavan also plans to lead an all-party delegation to meet Dr. Singh and said he would seek an appointment on July 14, the day the Chief Ministers of the five States have been summoned for a meeting in the capital on the Naxalite issue, or even later.” It should have been “seven States” (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Orissa and West Bengal) — there are Chief Ministers in six States, while in the case of Jharkhand, it's the Governor as the State is under Central rule.

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