Shiv Sena Working President Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday demanded Union Territory status for disputed Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary area to "stop the atrocities" allegedly being committed on Marathi-speaking people there.
"The disputed area should be declared a Union Territory with immediate effect with deployment of CRPF to protect Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka from police excesses," he told reporters.
On whether the measure advocated by him was constitutionally valid, Thackeray said it was necessary to find a way out and suggested forming a body on the lines of Darjeeling Hill Council to give effect to the Sena demand.
Repeatedly asked about the constitutional validity, he said, "We can also call the region as Karnataka-occupied Maharashtra on the lines Pakistan-occupied Kashmir".
Replying to questions as to whether the boundary issue was straining his party's alliance with BJP in Maharashtra, he said, "Breaking the saffron alliance is not the solution to
the problem. But I appeal to the BJP central leadership to advise Karnataka Chief Minister to observe restraint in dealing with Marathi population in that state".
The Maharashtra BJP leaders should also explain their stand on the boundary dispute with Karnataka, he added.
Thackeray said demanding Union Territory status for the disputed boundary area did not amount to dilution of Sena stand on the issue as it is meant to be an interim arrangement till the Supreme Court pronounced its order in the case.
"We want Belgaum to be separated from Karnataka first and stopping of atrocities on the Marathi-speaking people at the hands of police is the foremost priority for us," he said.
The Centre had shown greater sensitivity towards the "Swatantra Telangana" agitation and was "turning a deaf ear to the desperate cries of Marathis in Karnataka being mercilessly beaten by police in that state," the Sena leader said.
To a question, he said Congress-NCP ministers from Maharashtra in the UPA government should "show guts to resign" protesting the Centre's "unfair attitude" towards the state.
When he was told that Chief Minister Ashok Chavan too had told the ongoing state legislature session today that he would demand Union Territory status to the area, Uddhav said he was happy to know that and welcomed the announcement.
"It is a late but right posture," he added.
