Uddhav Thackeray's statement on border issue "sheer political one upmanship"; Karnataka Minister
Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister S Suresh Kumar on Sunday termed as "sheer political one upmanship," Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's statement raking up the border issue between the two states and advised him to concentrate on preventing COVID and on developmental activities.
The state's Primary and Secondary Education Minister said that the border issue was already well settled.
"The Chief Minister of Maharashtra should concentrate on preventing COVID, on developmental activities and other things. He need not go back to things already well settled.
I think it is only to whip up passions and whipping up passions will not pay dividends these days," Kumar told PTI.
Noting that people now want reforms and development, he said, Thackeray should be advised to concentrate on governance and relationship with his alliance partners.
"....it (border issue) is a well settled thing, nobody can reopen this issue.
This is sheer political one-upmanship," he added.
Thackeray earlier on Sunday had said that his government is committed towards incorporating into the state the areas of Karnataka where Marathi-speaking people are in majority.
"Bringing Karnataka-occupied Marathi-speaking and cultural areas in Maharashtra will be the true tribute to those who accepted martyrdom in the boundary battle.
We are united and committed towards it. Respects to the martyrs with this promise," the Maharashtra CMO tweeted.
Maharashtra claims Belagavi and some other areas, which was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency but currently in Karnataka, on linguistic grounds, contending that the majority of population in these areas is Marathi-speaking.
Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti, a regional organisation fighting for the merger of Belagavi and some other border areas with Maharashtra, observes January 17 as 'martyrs' day' for those who laid down their lives for the cause in 1956.
On its part, as an assertion that Belagavi is an integral part of the state, Karnataka has built the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, modeled on the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat in Bengaluru, where the legislature session is held once a year.
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Hemant Karkare killed by RSS-linked cop, not Kasab: Maharashtra LoP Vijay Wadettiwar
BJP writes to ECI for action against Cong leader Wadettiwar for 'defaming' Ujjwal Nikam
Mumbai, May 5: The BJP has written to the Election Commission of India seeking action against Congress and the opposition leader, Vijay Wadettiwar, for allegedly peddling lies and defaming its Mumbai North Central nominee and ex-26/11 prosecution lawyer Ujjwal Nikam.
Wadettiwar, the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra legislative assembly, purportedly called Nikam an "anti-national" and accused him of hiding the information that then Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare wasn't killed by Kasab's bullet during the 26/11 terror attack, but fell to a bullet of a policeman affiliated to RSS.
His allegations were based on the book "Who Killed Karkare" written by retired police officer SM Mushriff.
"As a responsible leader, the opposition leader should desist from making such comments that can help the enemy nation," Nikam said.
Terming Wadettiwar's statements as "false and not based on facts", Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shekar claimed they were aimed at defaming Ujjwal Nikam and inciting emotions.
"We have written to the Election Commission of India seeking action against Wadettiwar who is a star campaigner (of Congress) and also against the Congress party for peddling lies," he added.
Shelar further said (Ajmal) Kasab was sentenced to death for killing innocent people after following a due process of law.
Kasab was the lone terrorist who was captured alive by Mumbai Police during the 26/11 terror attack by Pakistani terrorists in which at least 166 people were killed and several others were injured.
Shelar wondered whether Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray supported the statement made by the Congress leader.
A former special public prosecutor, Nikam had represented the state in high-profile cases like the Mumbai serial bomb blasts and the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
He is making his political foray from Mumbai North Central seat on a BJP ticket and is pitted against city Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad.
