In SC,MHA rejects Maharashtras claim on Belgaum

Declaring that mere commonality of language was not enough,the Ministry of Home Affairs has turned down Maharashtras demand for Karnatakas Belgaum district being included in it. Most of the locals in Belgaum district are Marathi-speaking.

In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court,the Ministry held that a common language was not the ruling factor behind the State Reorganisation Act of 1956. The document prepared by Dr Praveen Kumari Singh,a Director with the Ministry,has urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the Maharashtra governments demand with exemplary costs and declared that there is no substantial question of law involved. It is not correct to say that certain areas were wrongly merged in Karnataka. The language of the people has been one criteria,but not the sole criteria for inclusion of any area,village,taluka,municipal area in a state, Singh tells the court in her affidavit.

Both Parliament and the Union Government had considered all the relevant factors while considering the State Reorganisation Bill,1956 and the Bombay Reorganisation Bill,1960 and decided the village,taluka,municipal areas,towns,etc,which were to be included in the states concerned, the affidavit says.

The BJP government in Karnataka has rejected Maharashtras claim over Marathi-speaking areas. Friction on the issue has often led to violence.The BJP unit of Mahrashtra has endorsed the demand for inclusion of Belgaum in the state and even passed a resolution last year. Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti supported by BJP and Shiv Sena is seeking merger of 856 villages and towns,including Belgaum,with Maharashtra.