Mumbai, Dt. 28
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today assured in the Legislative Assembly that the state government stands firmly behind the citizens of the Maharashtra-Karnataka border area and will not allow injustice to them in any way.
The Chief Minister was speaking on the issue raised by Assembly Member Chhagan Bhujbal.
While making a statement in this regard, Chief Minister Shinde said, we are sensitive about the border issue and have a sincere desire to resolve this issue at the earliest. It is the government’s role to ensure that no injustice is done to the border brothers by the Karnataka government. The matter is pending in the Supreme Court and expert lawyers have been appointed to present their case in the Supreme Court. Apart from that, senior lawyer Harish Salve has also been asked to represent the state government in this case and he has shown his readiness for it.
The state government took the initiative to appeal to the central government to resolve this issue, after which the Union Home Minister Amit Shah organized a meeting of the Chief Ministers of both the states in Delhi. In this meeting, it was decided to maintain the status quo situation in the border areas till the matter is pending in the Supreme Court. Also, Chief Minister Shinde also informed that it was decided to form a committee of three ministers each of both the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
It has also been decided to increase the retirement pay of the freedom fighters in the border war from Rs.10,000 to Rs.20,000. Chief Minister Shinde said that no injustice will be done to the citizens of the border areas under any circumstances.