Karnataka-Maharashtra border row | Kannada-speaking population never ill-treated in Mumbai, says Sanjay Raut

“Mumbai has always been welcoming and giving respect to people from all over the country, be it U.P. or West Bengal”

Hitting out at ​Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswamy’s remark about Mumbai being declared a Union Territory, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, the Kannada-speaking population in Mumbai has never been ill-treated.

“Unlike the oppression of the Marathi-speaking population in Belagavi or the border districts in Karnataka, the Kannada-speaking population in Mumbai City has never been ill-treated. Mumbai has always been welcoming and giving respect to people from all over the country, be it U.P. or West Bengal,” he said.

Mr. Raut further added, “Because of the continued oppression of the Marathi-speaking population in Belagavi for more than 70 years, we have demanded the district be brought under centre’s rule.”

Recently, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demanded that the disputed districts along the Maharashtra-Karnataka border be brought under Centre’s rule till the Supreme Court decides on the issue.

Reacting to this, the Karnataka Law Minister had said Mumbai can be a Union Territory and not the Belagavi district.

In early December, activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) had vandalized trucks from Maharashtra and staged strident protests against permitting any Minister to enter Marathi-speaking districts like Belagavi in Karnataka. This led to several Karnataka buses being painted with black ink by Maharashtra parties like the Raj Thackeray-led MNS.

Amid the border row between the two States, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met the Chief Ministers of both States and asked them to not claim any territory or make any demands till the Supreme Court gives its verdict.