The Hindu : National : Yeddyurappa, Chavan stick to their guns

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Yeddyurappa, Chavan stick to their guns

J. Balaji

In the Maharashtra-Karnataka dispute over Belgaum

— Photos: PTI & Sandeep Saxena

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and other Congress leaders talking to the media after meeting UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Saturday.

NEW DELHI: In the ongoing border dispute, both Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and his Maharashtra counterpart Ashok Chavan are sticking to their stands.

Mr. Yeddyurappa says Belgaum is an integral part of Karnataka and that the Mahajan Commission report on the issue was final.

Mr. Chavan, who led a State Congress delegation to party president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday, said Belgaum district with 865 villages having a Marathi-speaking population could be made Union Territory. Earlier, the delegation met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa after meeting Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi.

Charge and denial

Mr. Chavan alleged that the Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka were harassed by the State government, a charge denied by Mr. Yeddyurappa. The Karnataka Chief Minister said the Marathi people were safe and there was no need for panic. He said the Maharashtra government was creating confusion. Mr. Yeddyurappa said he would not allow any institution or individual to disturb the peace in the State.

Mr. Chavan even demanded that the National Human Rights Commission appoint a committee to tour the disputed areas in Karnataka.

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