Not anyone's father's, says Fadnavis, slamming Kannada leaders

Nagpur: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made a scathing statement, reacting to some Karnataka leaders' remarks on the raging boundary dispute between the two states, PTI reports.

Fadnavis said that Mumbai belongs to no one's father but his state. He added that Maharashtra's feelings would be conveyed to the Karnataka government and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party raised the issue of the Karnataka Chief Minister and other ministers hurting the pride of Maharashtra through their remarks and accused the BJP-led state government of not responding back.

"Law minister (of Karnataka) Madhu Swamy has demanded that Mumbai should be made a Union Territory. (Bharatiya Janata Party MLA) Laxman Savadi said Mumbai belongs to Karnataka and has rubbed salt on the Marathi people's wounds," Mr Pawar said.

He demanded that CM Eknath Shinde must condemn their statements.

To this, Fadnavis said, "Mumbai belongs to Maharashtra and not to anyone's father. We will not tolerate anyone staking claim over Mumbai, and we will put forth our feelings before the Karnataka government and Union home minister."

He added that he would request the Union Minister Amit Shah to scold such "motormouths".

"The comments by Karnataka MLAs or the Karnataka Congress president are contrary to what was decided. Will not tolerate any claim staked on Mumbai. We condemn this. We will send a letter (to Karnataka government) condemning these statements," Mr Fadnavis said.

"(These comments) are not in line with what was decided in the meeting with the Union Home Minister. It will be brought to the notice of the Union home minister," Mr Fadnavis added.

On Tuesday, both Houses of the Maharashtra legislature unanimously passed a resolution to "legally pursue" the inclusion of 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka into the western state. But, Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar asserted that not even a single village would be ceded to Maharashtra, as he condemned the resolution passed in the neighbouring state's legislature regarding the inclusion of Marathi-speaking villages.