BJP’s Basavaraj Ingin: Border dispute between Karnataka, Maharashtra handiwork of Maratha politicians

Several Shiv Sena leaders barged into movie theatres and vandalised posters of a Kannada movie. The bus services between Karnataka and Maharashtra are also cancelled.

Kalaburagi: BJP leader Basavaraj Ingin said that there is no border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra, and added that it is the handiwork of Maratha politicians.

"There is no border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka. The Maratha politicians are trying to raise the issue to gain public sympathy for their party. They have always been doing this. Once a personality goes down in degree, they create some issues. They just want to divert the attention of the people of Maharashtra," Ingin told media.

"The matter was already decided by the Mahajan Commission report. It was earlier under legal scrutiny which has been completed by now," he added.

On Monday, while tensions between Karnataka and neighbouring Maharashtra over the border issue were witnessed with protests on both sides, Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa urged people of the state to maintain peace stating that "not a single piece of land" would be given away.

The protests in Karnataka and Maharashtra have led to the cancellation of bus services between the two states.

On Sunday, Shiv Sena activists had launched a protest near the Kolhapur bus stand and burnt an effigy of Karnataka chief minister. This came after protesters in Belagavi burnt an effigy of Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

The agitation was in reaction to Eknath Shinde and Chhagan Bhujbal being appointed as coordinating ministers, to look into the issue of Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute.

On December 7, the Maharashtra chief minister had chaired a high-level meeting over the border dispute between the two states.

It was decided in the meeting that attempts will be made to get fast track hearing in the Supreme Court on this issue.