The Maharashtra government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has pledged unwavering support to the Marathi-speaking population residing in border regions. Fadnavis assured that every effort will be made to safeguard their rightful interests. This commitment was reiterated during a significant coordination committee meeting at Vidhan Bhavan concerning the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute.
Key members of the committee, including Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Ajit Pawar, along with MPs Sharad Pawar and Narayan Rane, were present. Fadnavis acknowledged the prolonged struggles faced by the border residents and announced plans to expedite legal proceedings by filing applications in the Supreme Court promptly. The state intends to engage top legal experts to present Maharashtra’s case effectively before the court.
Moreover, the Maharashtra government will provide legal representation and cover expenses for Marathi-speaking residents in Karnataka embroiled in border-related court cases. Fadnavis emphasized the establishment of a robust ministerial coordination mechanism for this purpose. He instructed officials to compile comprehensive data on the Linguistic Minorities Commission, which will be shared with all Maharashtra MPs for unified advocacy in Parliament.
Deputy Chief Minister Shinde echoed Fadnavis’s concerns, highlighting the administration’s attentiveness to the challenges faced by Marathi-speaking citizens along the border. He praised the state’s commitment, under Fadnavis’s leadership, to address the crisis effectively. Maharashtra currently extends various welfare schemes to border residents, including reserved seats in IAS pre-training centers and specialized quotas in engineering and medical admissions.
Lok Sabha Member Rane stressed the urgency of resolving the border issue and mentioned strategic suggestions put forth during the meeting to achieve a lasting solution.
