Belgaum dispute: Maharashtra ministers sport black ribbons
Mumbai: Maharashtra cabinet ministers on Sunday sported black ribbons to express solidarity with Belgaum's Marathi-speaking people who observe the foundation day of Karnataka on November 1 as 'black day'.
Maharashtra claims Belgaum, part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, but currently a district of Karnataka, on linguistic grounds.
The dispute between the two states over Belgaum and other border areas is pending before the Supreme Court for many years.
Maharashtra Water Resources Minister and state NCP president Jayant Patil on Sunday sported a black ribbon on his arm while performing his official duties.
State Urban Development Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde released black balloons in neighboring Thane.
Patil said NCP workers and all ministers in the state government were sporting black ribbons to express solidarity with their brethren in the boundary areas
"Atrocities against Marathi-speaking people by Karnataka are continuing even though the case is pending in the Supreme Court," Patil alleged while expressing confidence that Belgaum and other border areas comprising Marathi- speaking people will be part of Maharashtra.
Eknath Shinde and minister Chhagan Bhujbal in a letter to Marathi people of Karnataka said the Maharashtra government is committed towards the education, social justice, conservation of Marathi language, and other issues of people in Belgaum, Karwar, Nipani, Bidar, and other Marathi-speaking areas along the border.
The two ministers were last year appointed as co-coordinators to oversee the Maharashtra government's efforts to expedite the case related to the boundary dispute.
"We both are small soldiers of this movement to include these areas into Maharashtra which is indebted to the sacrifice and courage of the local Marathi population," they said in the letter.
They said people in Maharashtra should learn from those in the border areas what is love for the Marathi language and culture.
Maharashtra considers everyone in the border areas who speaks Marathi irrespective of his/her caste, creed, and religion as its own, the ministers said.
"We consider providing them representation and involvement in the social, cultural, and political field as very important and will take policy decisions from time-to-time," they said.
"The inclusion of the Marathi-speaking areas into Maharashtra will be a dream come true for the 12 crore population in the state," they said.
"Till that historic moment turns into a reality, Maharashtra would continue to remain in solidarity with the Marathi-speaking people in the border areas," they added.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Rauttold reporters that the demand for inclusion of the Marathi-speaking areas of Karnataka into Maharashtra was a fight for the rights of people living along the border areas of the two states.
"The 60-year-old fight was for the rights of the Marathi-speaking people living in Belgaum and other areas along the Karnataka-Maharashtra border. We need not be told that the sun and moon will continue to exist," he said.
"This 60-year-old fight is the right of the Marathi people. Their wish to be part of Maharashtra should be respected. If the Kannada-speaking people on Karnataka-Andhra or Kerala borders wish to be part of Karnataka, their wishes, too, should be fulfilled," he said.
Raut was responding to a reported statement of Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi that Belgaum will continue to be a part of Karnataka till the sun and moon exist.
Maharashtra Congress minister Satej Patil in a tweet in Marathi said, "Let people say anything they want. We have decided. Sanyukta Maharashtra (United Maharashtra) will be a reality with the inclusion of Belgaum."
State Rural Development Minister Hasan Mushrif tweeted that the state cabinet ministers were sporting black ribbons and conducting their official duties to express solidarity with people in the border areas.
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Bihar minister Nitin Nabin appointed BJP's national working president
New Delhi (PTI): Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin was on Sunday appointed as the BJP national working president and is likely to eventually succeed JP Nadda as its national president, signalling a generational shift in the ruling party.
Nabin, 45, son of late Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha -- a veteran BJP leader and former MLA -- is considered dynamic and ideologically rooted, and deeply committed to the organisation, party leaders said.
A five-time MLA, he represents Bankipur assembly constituency in Bihar and has served twice as a minister in the Bihar Government.
His tenures as a minister in Bihar and his role as the party incharge of Chhattisgarh have been truly outstanding and marked by his effective organisational leadership, they said.
The BJP parliamentary board picked Nabin for the post.
"Bharatiya Janata Party's parliamentary board has appointed Nitin Nabin, a minister in the Bihar government, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s national working president with immediate effect," BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said in a notification.
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Nabin, who belongs to the Kayastha community, is likely to succeed incumbent BJP chief Nadda and is one of the youngest leaders to occupy the post, the leaders said.
Nadda, 65, was appointed the BJP President in January 2020 and has already completed his full term. He was granted extensions to lead the party through the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Congratulating Nabin on his appointment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he has distinguished himself as a "hardworking Karyakarta" and expressed confidence that his energy and dedication will strengthen the party.
"He is a young and industrious leader with rich organisational experience and has an impressive record as MLA as well as Minister in Bihar for multiple terms. He has diligently worked to fulfil people's aspirations.
"He is known for his humble nature and grounded style of working. I am confident that his energy and dedication will strengthen our Party in the times to come. Congratulations to him on becoming the BJP National Working President," PM Modi said on X.
Nabin has also worked extensively for Yuva Morcha. His appointment reflects the BJP’s focus on capable leadership and signals a generational shift, the leaders said.
BJP chief Nadda also greeted Nabin and said he was confident that the party would attain new heights under his leadership.
"I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the dynamic BJP leader from the sacred land of knowledge and culture, Bihar, and Minister in the Bihar Government, Shri Nitin Nabin ji on his appointment as the National Working President of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"I am fully confident that under the guidance of the esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and your leadership, the organisation will reach new heights with the sentiments of nation-building and public service. Heartfelt best wishes for your illustrious and successful tenure," he said on X.
