In the ongoing border dispute, both Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and his Maharashtra counterpart Ashok Chavan are sticking to their stands.
Mr. Yeddyurappa says Belgaum is an integral part of Karnataka and that the Mahajan Commission report on the issue was final.
Mr. Chavan, who led a State Congress delegation to party president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday, said Belgaum district with 865 villages having a Marathi-speaking population could be made Union Territory. Earlier, the delegation met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Charge and denial
Mr. Chavan alleged that the Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka were harassed by the State government, a charge denied by Mr. Yeddyurappa. The Karnataka Chief Minister said the Marathi people were safe and there was no need for panic. He said the Maharashtra government was creating confusion. Mr. Yeddyurappa said he would not allow any institution or individual to disturb the peace in the State.
Mr. Chavan even demanded that the National Human Rights Commission appoint a committee to tour the disputed areas in Karnataka.
