The Maharashtra Legislative Council was adjourned for 10 minutes on Tuesday as a mark of protest against Karnataka government's move to block health benefit funds being allocated by Maharashtra to border villages with significant Marathi population. Leader of Opposition in the Council, Ambadas Danve, had moved a motion to discuss the issue. "The Maharashtra government announced several funds, including Rs 54 crore, towards health insurance for the disputed villages. Why doesn't the state give a befitting reply to Karnataka? When there is BJP government in both states, and at the Centre, how can anyone stop these schemes?" said Ambadas Danve. Last week, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai had said that the government would take action to stop Maharashtra's health insurance given to villages in the disputed border area. MLC Jayant Patil, from Peasants and Workers Party of India, then demanded that the chairperson should announce adjournment for 5 or 10 minutes as a condemnation of Karnataka's action. When minister Uday Samant began to address the Legislative Council on the topic, the Opposition began chanting slogans. Deputy Chairperson of the Council, Neelam Gorhe, urged the Opposition to present an united front with the government on the issue. "Stop bringing politics here. We must all present an united front and send out a message that the government and Opposition of Maharashtra are united on the issue of the border dispute," Gorhe said. She then adjourned the House for 10 minutes. "I want to make it clear that this adjournment is a form of criticism of the Karnataka government," Gorhe said.
