State lagging behind in border row: MPCC

MUMBAI, SEPT 23: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Comittee MPCC spokesperson Vasant Chavan today said that the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance gover...

MUMBAI, SEPT 23: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Comittee MPCC spokesperson Vasant Chavan today said that the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government had not persued the long-pending boundary dispute with Karnataka effectively during its three-and-half year tenure at the helm of affairs.

Addressing the weekly press conference at Gandhi Bhavan, Chavan said the issue was difficult and was not the one which can be sorted out within a matter of time. However, the State Government was lagging behind in its efforts.

Congress MLA from Kolhapur Digvijay Kanvilkar who was also present on the occasion said that Marathi-speaking people in Belgaum and other surrounding areas had to face lot of hardships over the years. Kannada was forced upon the Marathi-speaking students and efforts to make Marathi an optional subject was not heeded to. Maharashtra had a strong case in the matter as even the people of those areas wanted to be part of the state.

Chavan said the September 28 meeting of an All Party Committee comprising Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and former chief minister Sharad Pawar, senior PWP leader N D Patil and Janata Dal leader Madhu Dandavate should take Maharashtra8217;s case strongly with the Centre. He said the meeting was being held after a long time.

He also condemned last week8217;s attack by a mob of 300 people on a Dalit colony in Borgaon of Sangli district. About 50 houses were completely damaged in the attack. Chavan criticised the government8217;s apathetic attitude towards providing financial assistance to the affected. He said a mearge amount of Rs 600 is shameful and added that the assistance should be given taking into account the losses suffered by them. He felt the chief minister himself should have gone to the area and taken stock of the situation.

The MPCC spokesperson also said that a judicial inquiry should be ordered into the misappropriation of funds in various corporations of the Social Welfare Department.

Referring to the statements made by Manohar Joshi about the impending release of social crusader Anna Hazare, he said the State Government was trying to repent its mistake of allowing Hazare to be arrested. The government made a serious mistake by refusing permission to Warkaris to meet Hazare in Pune.