Pune: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar stressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s “fearless decision making” while hitting out at the opposition for bringing up “low-level issues” against him.
Pawar claimed that there has been no corruption charges against PM Modi in the last ten years.
“There have been no corruption charges against PM Modi in the last ten years. The opposition has no major issues so they speak about some low-level issues. PM Modi is making decisions without any fear. Opposition got united to target PM Modi but people are smart. They will make the right decision,” Ajit Pawar told reporters on Wednesday.
Speaking on the Maharashtra foundation day, the Deputy CM said that the dream of including Marathi-speaking villages along the Belgaum NipKarwar border is still unfulfilled amid the long-standing border dispute with Karnataka.
“Today, on the occasion of Maharashtra Rajya Sthanpa Diwas, our dream of including Marathi-speaking villages along the border with Belgaum Nipani Karwar in Maharashtra is still unfulfilled, and to fulfil this dream, every Marathi-speaking people of the border part is working hard in the struggle. There is support from the people of Maharashtra and I am sure that this support will continue until this part is included in Maharashtra,” he said.
Reportedly, the border dispute between the two states has been ongoing for over 60 years and is regarding the control of Belagavi, Karwar and Nipani, part of North Karnataka. Maharashtra has filed a petition in the Supreme Court staking claim over the region. It claims that parts of Belagavi, which has a Marathi-speaking majority should remain in Maharashtra.
As per the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, when state boundaries were formed based on linguistic factors Belagavi became part of the erstwhile Mysore state and Karnataka has argued that the boundary settlement as per the States Reorganisation Act is final.
“Not only on May 1 but in every assembly session we mention about it through the Governor’s speech. The case is still in the Supreme Court, we can’t seek an answer from the SC, as we have given good lawyers for the case. We try to give all possible facilities to the Marathi-speaking people in that part,” the Deputy CM added.
May 1 is celebrated as the foundation day of Maharashtra and Gujarat commemorating the establishment of the two states. Gujarat and Maharashtra were formed in 1960 dividing the state of Bombay after the Bombay Reorganisation Act was passed that came into effect on May 1, 1960.
On Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra conducted in five phases, Pawar said that the decision lies with the Election Commission.
“As per my understanding, the EC is independent to decide in how many phases they want to carry out the election. They consider the availability of the staff etc in Maharashtra or any other state. Election to happen in five phases here and seven phases in the country in total so you can ask this question to EC,” Pawar said.
