Merger 865 Karnataka villages with Maharashtra: Mumbai mayor writes to PM Modi

Mumbai: Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC) Mayor Kishori Pednekar has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to merge 865 border villages, presently a part of Karnataka, with Maharashtra.

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Pednekar stated that these villages have been made a part of Karnataka in 1956 when state boundaries have been finalised primarily based on languages however a majority of them nonetheless speaks Marathi. “There are about 40 lakh individuals in these villages whose mom tongue is Marathi they usually need to be a part of Maharashtra.

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Additionally, these persons are compelled to observe different cultures and languages. These persons are going through injustice they usually have been combating towards the state (Karnataka) since final 65 years. On the event of August 9 (Revolution Day) I’m requesting you to incorporate these 40 lakh individuals in Maharashtra, “Pednekar stated in her letter to Modi on August 9.

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For many years, Maharashtra and Karnataka have been at loggerheads over border points at Belgaum which is a part of Karnataka. Maharashtra is demanding Belgaum be made a part of the state citing that it has primarily Marathi-speaking individuals. However, Karnataka has been opposing the demand.