Over a border dispute in contentious areas between Maharashtra and Karnataka Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai will visit Delhi to meet senior advocate, Mukul Rohatgi on Tuesday.
Talking to the media CM Bommai said, “The case pertaining to the border dispute with Maharashtra is coming up for hearing in the Supreme Court on November 30. The government has appointed former justice of the apex court, Justice Shivaraj Patil as chairman of the Karnataka Border and Rivers Protection Commission, with whom also the meeting has been held. The State is all set for a legal battle with the neighboring Maharashtra State and the stand of Karnataka will be effectively presented before the court.”
On the border dispute, CM Bommai refused to comment and said, it is not correct to make any comment or discuss it in public since the matter is in court.
Earlier, on Sunday in the wake of the case coming up before the Supreme Court on November 30, a meeting was held with senior advocates and officials by CM Bommai.
“The petition filed by the state of Maharashtra in regard to the border issue did not have any legal provision since it was filed on the basis of the State Reorganisation Act and Article 3 (formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing states) of the Constitution,” Karnataka CM said.
Meanwhile, the case will be presented by well-learned counsels led by Mukul Rohtagi and Uday Holla on behalf of Karnataka.
“The senior advocates, A G Prabhulinga Navadagi and Uday Holla have given certain directions. I will be going to Delhi on November 29 and will discuss these with our senior advocate, Mukul Rohtagi on these issues. In all, the State of Karnataka is ready for a legal battle to protect the border and land of ours,” CM Bommai said.
CM Bommai further said, “We are abiding by the law as well as the Constitution. There will be no change in the landscape of Karnataka. The state’s stand and demand will be presented at the time of presenting the case. In this connection, an all-party meeting and legal experts meeting has been convened next week to discuss the line of argument.”
Moreover, talking about the border row CM Bommai said in Maharashtra border row has become a political tool and for political purposes, it will be raised.
“My government is capable of protecting the borders of Karnataka and has taken steps also,” Bommai said.
However, some villages in Maharashtra’s Sangli district are facing water crises and passed a resolution seeking their merger with Karnataka, CM Bommai claimed.
Furthermore, the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister denied all the claims of the merger.