Maharashtra-Karnataka border row: Mumbai belongs to Maharashtra and Marathi people, will not allow anybody else to stake claim, says CM Shinde

Ruling and Opposition parties censure Karnataka leadership for hurting sentiments of the Marathi-speaking people

Condemning statements of some Karnataka leaders that Mumbai ought to be declared a Union Territory and that it ought to belong to the southern State, both the ruling Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition censured the Karnataka leadership for hurting sentiments of the Marathi-speaking people by repeatedly making provocative remarks amid the renewed Maharashtra-Karnataka border spat.

The latest verbal fracas erupted after former CM Uddhav Thackeray demanded that the disputed districts of Belagavi, Karwar, Nippani and others with a significant Marathi-speaking populace be declared a Union Territory and placed under the Centre’s rule.

In response, ​Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswamy stated that Mumbai ought to be declared a Union Territory while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Laxman Savadi reportedly said that Mumbai belonged to Karnataka.

Following the uproar by the Opposition over the remarks of the Karnataka leaders, CM Shinde said that the statements regarding Mumbai were highly condemnable and that “no one ought to play with fire” by making such provocative statements.

“Mumbai belongs to Maharashtra and the Marathi-speaking people… it is not the property of someone’s father that they can just stake claim to it. Such provocative statements cannot be tolerated by anybody. Be it bomb blasts, riots or any other calamity, Mumbaikars have always risen to the occasion and have come together to save the city. [Late Shiv Sena founder] Bal Thackeray has protected it,” said Mr. Shinde, speaking in the Legislative Council.

Likewise, Deputy CM and BJP leader Fadnavis, too, condemned the remarks made by the Karnataka BJP leaders and said that their government will not tolerate anyone staking claim over Mumbai and that Union Home Minister Amit Shah would be requested to reprimand such “loose-tongued” leaders.

“The comments by Karnataka MLAs or the Karnataka Congress president are contrary to what was decided [at the recent meeting of Karnataka and Maharashtra CMs with Mr. Shah]. Will not tolerate any claim staked on Mumbai. We condemn these statements and will send a letter to the Karnataka government on this matter,” Mr. Fadnavis said.