Yediyurappa slams Ajit Pawar for rasing border dispute

The decades-long Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute has raised a war of words between the two politicians. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister AJit Pawar  on Wednesday have locked horns over the issue. Ajit Pawar said, "Late Balasaheb had struggled his entire life for the rights of the common man. He always dreamt about the overall development of Maharashtra and a united Maharashtra including Belgaum, Karwar and Nipani. So, let us decide to fulfil this dream,”

Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa condemned Ajit Pawar's remarks and called them “unwanted”. The world knows that the Mahajan Commission report on this issue is final. Marathis and Kannadigas are equal in the state," Yediyurappa said. "We have also formed a development board for Marathas in the state; they are also Hindus. Pawar has unnecessarily tried to add fuel to the fire. He should stop making such remarks,” he said.

Though the bordering areas in Maharashtra and Karnataka have been the bone of contention since pre-Independence days, the issue got prominence in 1956 after the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka were formed as per the linguistic reorganisation.The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti was formed for the cause. Maharashtra has been staking claim over 865 villages in Karnataka including Belgaum, Karvar, Nipani and other areas.The matter is still pending before the Supreme Court.