Chairman of Kannada Development Authority "Mukhyamantri" Chandru today said pressure should be exerted on the Centre to merge with Karnataka some parts of Maharashtra, 'where Kannadigas account for 90%.'
He claimed 90% of the people living in Latur, Jatta, Akkalakote, Gadahindlaja and south Solapur areas are Kannadigas and alleged that the Maharashtra government is curtailing the facilities for these Kannadigas there and meting out a "step-motherly" approach, which is "condemnable".
"In this background, I feel it's imperative to exert pressure on the Centre to merge these regions to Karnataka", Chandru told reporters, as he congratulated Lok Sabha members from the State for raising "pro-Karnataka voice" during a discussion on the Belgaum boundary dispute yesterday.
Asserting that Belgaum is an integral part of Karnataka and Mahajan Commission report on the matter is final, he charged Maharashtra politicians with repeatedly 'provoking' the self-respect of Kannadigas.
Chandru said Karnataka is only adopting a "defensive approach" on the boundary issue whenever Maharashtra rakes up the matter, but it now has to stake claim to these areas of Maharashtra.
"Now, we have to stake our claim", he said. "chief minister (BS Yeddyurappa) needs to make a representation".
In this context, he has written to BJP's HN Anathkumar, who declared in Lok Sabha yesterday that Belgaum is an integral part of Karnataka and that there was no boundary dispute.
