Opposing the demand for a separate state of Vidarbha, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said Maharashtra should get Marathi-speaking areas of Belgaum and adjoining areas in Karnataka.
"The government should remove the injustice done to Maharashtra by giving it Belgaum-Karwar areas where the Marathi-speaking populace is being oppressed," Uddhav said in a statement.
"As long as the Shiv Sena is there, no one will be allowed to divide Maharashtra," Uddhav said while speaking on the demand for a separate Vidarbha, which has brought to the fore differences in the Opposition Shiv Sena- Bharatiya Janata Party alliance.
While state BJP leaders have rallied for the fulfillment of the long-pending demand for a separate Vidarbha, Sena has come out vehemently against splitting Maharashtra.
The ties between the saffron partners have already under strain, as the Sena leaders believe that the BJP in trying to bring Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena under the opposition umbrella.
